Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Cobblestone District property owner Darryl Carr intends to keep fighting, even after the New York State Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the City of Buffalo in an eminent domain case centered on his properties at 110 and 118 South Park Avenue.
The ruling allows the city to take control of the buildings, which were badly damaged in a fire last year.
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"I was very disappointed that the State Court of Appeals would not hear this case, but we do have other avenues to try to resolve this," Carr said in an interview with WBEN on Wednesday.
He indicated that he is discussing his next step with his attorneys, which could involve other courts including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Carr said the buildings were in major disrepair when he purchased them in 2008. He applied for demolition of those structures immediately.
Last fall, the properties underwent stabilization efforts by the city after a fire ripped through the buildings in June. But Carr says there is nothing stable about the buildings.
"They destroyed the buildings, completely destroyed them, when they attempted stabilization," he added.
Carr claims he has submitted plans for a Unity Tower, a skyscraper he wants to build on the site, but said the city has ignored it.
"Former Mayor Byron Brown wouldn't talk to me. And Mayor Chris Scanlon is also not engaging in discussion," he noted.
The properties are some of the oldest in Buffalo, and were built in the mid-1800s, prior to the American Civil War.
Carr believes the city, if they are successful in eminent domain proceedings, is going to have no choice but to do a major toxic cleanup, which will be a huge cost to taxpayers.
"The city wants to steal my properties and give me nothing for it, and give it to someone else. It may take me going to the highest court to resolve this. But if they think this fight is over, they are sadly mistaken," Carr said.