HEART OF THE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS present A TOUR OF RICHARD WAITE ARCHITECTURE
featuring THE WHITE BROTHERS LIVERY & STABLE representatives of SAVE THE LIVERY will be on hand.
FREE TOUR begins at 3:30 PM,
Sunday, July 20th, and meets at Kleinhans.
The tour will conclude at the Plymouth Street Block Party and all are welcome.
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HEART OF THE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS'
BLOCK PARTY & 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
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SUNDAY JULY 20th 2 ~ 6 PM
PLYMOUTH AVENUE BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA & HUDSON
- FREE food !
- FREE live music !
- A Zoomobile & other FREE activities !
Contact:
Fred Schrock
Community Intern, Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc.
www.hocn.org
Docent, Buffalo Tours
www.buffalotours.org
Businessman Robert Freudenheim, his wife and their company are being sued by the city for the costs of demolishing one of their Wadsworth Street properties and the continuing demolition-related work on the historic Jersey Street livery. Read More...
Artical By: Matt Gryta (buffalonews.com)
at the WHITE BROS LIVERY STABLE
428 Jersey
(bring chairs!)
*MEET THE NEW OWNER OF THIS HISTORIC BUILDING*
...find out what the problems and issues are now
....ask questions
...help with the answers
EVERYONE CONCERNED WITH THE FATE OF THIS BUILDING and the community around it SHOULD BE THERE IF POSSIBLE!
West Side community activist Harvey Garrett will be in Common Council chambers pressing his request to have the recent events surrounding the Jersey Street Livery structural collapse and the failure of city inspectors to lead to this catastrophe investigated. One glaring question remains- why weren't violations for this property ever written for court, or the owner prosecuted? Our voices of community support are necessary to press the Council to investigate this civic debacle. He needs all our support today.
This is a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" opportunity for everyone who has been outraged at the near and utter destruction of the Livery, in clear view of the city inspections department, to express their concern and outrage.
Thank you for your continued support. Our efforts to Save The Livery has caught the attention of the Mayor and the Buffalo courts.
H O W E V E R, nothing is final, and the livery's fate is still very uncertain. Won't you please help us prevent this senseless loss to our community? Our local government responds to situations that are driven by large numbers of citizens responding to a particular issue. The best way for us to be heard is to express your concern through the MAYOR'S COMPLAINT LINE. 851-4890
We want to flood this system with expressions of community support for the stable and outrage at the negligent owners of the livery Robert and Nina Freudenheim. Why are they allowed to neglect this unique historic building for more than twenty years? Why has the city allowed them to practice demolition by neglect, at the expense and ruin of our city? Don't continue this cycle of negligence. Get the livery out of the Freudenheims hands, make them accountable and save the livery now.
You can phone or e-mail your expressions of concern. This can be done anonymously, but we urge you to leave your name, as anonymous complaints are not taken seriously. PLEASE help save the livery by taking action NOW!
(716) 851-4890 (Make the phonecall)
or
Contact the Resolution Hotline below.
http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Applications/ComplaintForm/
default.aspx
Department Head- Oswaldo Mestre, Jr. (716) 851-4229
Address: 218 City Hall, Buffalo, New York 14202
Include the following in your own words:
- I urge the mayor to save the jersey street livery stable.
- I demand the city hold the Freudenheims responsible for this derelict negligence and danger to our community.
- I demand the Mayor' office to be the steward of protection for Buffalo's history by preventing a situation like this ever occurring again.
- November 2009 is a short time away, and we will remember the ultimate fate of the livery come election time.
Please come show your support at the press conference today, June 24th, at 4 PM at the Livery, Jersey and Richmond Ave.
Help us hold the city officials accountable that are continuing to let the owner of the Livery off the hook. This will help to start changing our city's policies in dealing with owners who cause demolition by neglect, destroying the historic urban fabric of our city, leaving us in a wasteland of vacant lots.
Show Buffalo's determination to end demolition by neglect!
TUESDAY JUNE 24
10:30 AM
25 DELAWARE AVE - third floor, part 19
State Supreme Court pre trial proceedings will continue Tuesday, June 24th, at 10:30 am before Justice Christopher Burns, 25 Delaware Avenue, third floor, part 19, Buffalo, NY, and are open to the public.
We ask that you attend if possible. Justice Burns has instructed both sides to work to reach agreement that will amicably satisfy both the concerns of the community, and the city. We are eager and optimistic that such an agreement can be reached.
It is the professional opinion of our two engineers that the lower two thirds of the façade can be saved, that the rear wall is stable, and that the tower is basically free standing and in no need of demolition.
Now that much of the initial crisis that surrounded the immediate Livery demolition has subsided, we fear that interest and participation from the community and volunteers will begin to wane.
THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE LIVERY, OR PORTIONS OF IT, IS NOT OVER. Despite much speculation, and statements from the city of concern and understanding, no legally binding agreements are in place to protect the historic livery. Your ongoing participation is VITAL. Even an hour of your time, volunteered toward this effort could literally be the difference it takes save or lose the livery.
We have erected a temporary tent opposite the livery, and hope volunteers will show up to be a presence on the scene, and to collect signatures from concerned citizens.
E-mail your interest and availability, and any special field of expertise to savethelivery@gmail.com.
COURT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING at 9:30AM. PLEASE BE THERE, AND BRING OTHERS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FILL THE COURTROOM.
State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns today urged everyone involved in the case to work out an agreement. He ordered all attorneys back in his courtroom at "9:30 a.m. sharp" TOMORROW Friday, June 20th.
The incredible outpouring of interest and support for a reasonable alternative to wholesale demolition of the Livery has saved our treasure from the wrecking ball so far, but it's still day to day.
It's CRITICAL to show continued and ongoing support for the Livery, and the most important way we can do that RIGHT NOW is to have concerned people COME TO COURT TO SHOW HOW MANY OF US ARE CONCERNED! Come and bear witness to the proceedings. Help to show how broad and determined the support is---call some friends to go with you.
Tomorrow morning, Friday, 9:30 AM,
NY State Supreme Court,
25 Delaware Avenue,
3rd Floor, trial part 19.
Thank you Buffalo, one and all, for your continuing support of our efforts to Save the Livery.
Judge urges sides to reach agreement on historic Jersey Street livery: By Matt Gryta (buffalonews.com)
State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns today urged all sides in the dispute over the crumbling 19th century Jersey Street landmark to try to work out an agreement. He ordered them to return to court Friday morning.
After talking in chamber with attorneys for homeowners, the property owner and the city, the judge allowed "therapeutic demolition" on the three-story brick White Bros. Livery & Boarding Stable to continue in an effort to make the structure stable.
Burns ordered all attorneys in the dispute back to his courtroom at "9:30 a.m. sharp" Friday when "hopefully we'll have a resolution" acceptable to all sides and in the interests of historical preservation.
Under Burns' order, the contractor retained by the city did some stabilization work on the roof of the structure and its walls Wednesday with more work needed, according to Richard M. Tobe, the city's commissioner of economic development, permit and inspection services.
Attorneys for all sides declined comment after today's court session.
As a result of continuing deterioration and bricks falling onto adjacent properties, the city issued an emergency demolition order fora the building last week.
Five families with homes around the structure, all in danger of being destroyed in a catastrophic collapse of the building, were evacuated June 11 and are living elsewhere.
Attorneys for four of those families are working with a businessman who has expressed some interest in purchasing the structure owned for decades by businessman Robert Freudenheim.
The former horse stable on Jersey near Richmond Avenue was designed by 19th Century architect Richard A. Waite.
Catherine Herrick and Paul Morgan, neighborhood activists, have created an Internet web site in an effort to promote preservation of the historic structure, www.savethelivery.com.
Scot Fisher, president of singer Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records and who helped save a historic Delaware Avenue church from the city's wrecking balls a few years ago, came to court today to observe the dispute over the stable.
Fisher emphasized that the DiFranco organization is not interested in the structure but remains hopeful all sides can reach an accord that will preserve at least a portion of the historic stable.
The court proceedings that will decide the fate of the much beloved White Bros. Livery Stable at 428 - 430 Jersey Street will be decided Thursday, June 19th, at 10AM before State Supreme Court Judge Christopher Burns, 25 Delaware Avenue, third floor, part 19, Buffalo, NY.
Supporters, organizers, and media will be present to show the overwhelming support by the community to save this treasured structure.
Contact:
Catherine Herrick - Phone: 716-949-2800
or
Paul Morgan Phone: 716-208-5070
Email: savethelivery@gmail.com
The fate of the Livery hinges on it's being preserved AT LEAST until a court ruling can be reached on Thursday, and contractors are continuing with dismantling the structure under, what we hope, is close adherence to what was authorized and instructed by the courts. We urgently need volunteers on site to monitor the actions by the demolition company, and city officials. It is regrettable to stress that it is precisely the failure of the city to act responsibly to date that requires this close scrutiny by us. In addition WE NEED VIDEO COVERAGE ON THE SITE ASAP. Events that transpire in the next few hours and days could well decide the fate of the Livery! We need the highest level of diligence at this juncture, and YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL. E-mail us at savethelivery@gmail.com, let us know if you can site watch, or most especially if you can video or donate equipment.
DO NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH DEMOLITION PERSONAL, CITY OFFICIALS OR POLICE. WE ARE LOOKING TO WITNESS, AND ADVISE THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS, AND CONDONE NO ILLEGAL INTERFERENCE IN THIS PROCESS. SHOW UP AND BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN HISTORIC EVENT IN OUR CITY'S RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITY CRISIS, AND IT'S DUBIOUS COMMITMENT TO OUR RICH ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE....AND BRING YOUR VIDEO CAMERAS!!!
As of Monday, June 16th, the courts have ordered the city to proceed with efforts to mitigate the danger to public safety "with
all due care" to protect those portions of the Livery that are still viable, especially the front façade, back wall, and free
standing tower.
To address concerns that Save the Livery's efforts have stalled demolition, or prolonged the danger to the community, I would like to clarify the events of the past few days. The city's original plan was to attempt to collapse the building inward, with no guarantee that the structure would actually collapse in a contained manner, and not collapse accidentally on surrounding homes. On Thursday, June 12th, we were informed that demolition efforts would begin Monday, June 16th, only AFTER all necessary precautions were taken to protect the surrounding homes such as adding tires and wood boards to the roofs of surrounding homes for protection from any stray falling bricks.
None of these precautions were taken, and demolition began hastily on Friday at 3 pm, in advance of our scheduled 4 pm rally and
assembly to address community concerns, and in advance of the announced Monday start date.
Emergency safety demolition and remediation efforts are proceeding by the city today, June 17th, with guidelines set forth by the court, in what we feel is a much more considered and cautious manner, to disassemble the most dangerous parts of the structure. In effect, we feel that Save the Livery's efforts have made the emergency response to this situation safer and more responsible to the displaced neighbors and the community at large.
We hope that no unforeseen or preventable "accidents" cause any more of the historic Livery to be lost than is absolutely necessary to ensure the public's safety.
There are only a few of us working long hours every day on this emergency, and there is more to be done than we can effectively manage.
If you can spare ANY time at all PLEASE CONTACT US.
A trip to Kinko's, entering lists of supporters into a database, sitting at the site and collecting more names, and keeping an eye on the situation, etc.
Today's rally will be held at 1PM at the Lenox Hotel, 140 North Street, between Elmwood and Delaware. Please come today and bring others!
Save the Livery has gained a temporary restraining order to halt the demolition of the Livery Stable as of 1 pm Saturday, June 14, 2008. Demolition has stopped! Cout papers will be filed Monday.
We would like to thank everyone who came out and showed their support at Friday's rally. Please continue to spread the word of our cause and encourage others to participate in the next rally which is scheduled for Sunday, June 15, 2008, at 1 pm - location to be announced Sunday morning on this web site.
In an attempt to retain a piece of Buffalo's heritage, our goal is to save part of this historic structure, specifically half of the front facade and a ten foot high portion of the remaining exterior walls. We also want to hold the owner, who has allowed the Livery to deteriorate for the last twenty years, responsible for this needless destruction.
Please attend Sunday's rally to show the public's support for this important part of our Buffalo history.
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