Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The owner of the Cobblestone properties destroyed in a fire Tuesday night told WBEN his plans for a skyscraper on the site are still on.
Darryl Carr admitted it is a bigger loss now, because the project has probably tripled or quadrupled in price. However, he says nothing has changed with respect to his development.
"The buildings will be demolished and then we remove the debris and
we get the site shovel ready," said Carr.
WBEN learned Wednesday morning the City of Buffalo is not pursuing an emergency demolition at this time. The buildings are pre-Civil War era, dating back to the 1850s, and have been at the center of an eminent domain dispute with the city.
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Carr's plan calls for a tower, higher than Seneca One, on the site of the two burned-out Cobblestone buildings at 110 and 118 South Park Avenue.
"Go to Unitytower.com. That was my plan for 10 years. It was designed
by world class architects and engineers," Carr said.
A proposed 55-story skyscraper would consist of apartments, condos and retail space and parking.
When asked if he thinks the city will approve the proposed plan, Carr relied, "Why wouldn't they? It's within the zoning. It's in the downtown core. All I need is a height variance."
Will the Cobblestone district's historic designation be a hinderance? He explained he has proposed that the ground level buildings be re-created.
"They did the same thing in Philadelphia. A lot of buildings were taken down
and re-created. And then they built skyscrapers above them," Carr said. On the ground level it has a historic nature and everything above it is new."
Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski, who represents the Cobblestone District, has led the city's fight against Carr's project at every turn.
"I'll believe it when I see it," said Nowakowski with WBEN on Wednesday, referring to the proposed skyscraper.
"These structures have been in and out of courts for 15 years. I was in high school when this first happened. This is how long and delayed, and pronounced our judicial system is when dealing with slumlords.
"This is the most disputed building in the City of Buffalo."
On plans for a skyscraper, Nowakowski called it a farce.
"There are no plans. If he had actual plans for adaptive re-use, he would submit them to the preservation board and go through protocols," Nowakowski said. "You can't just bluff your way. He hasn't submitted any plans, drawings or shown financing. He hasn't done anything like a normal developer."