After a failed attempt at mediation to resolve the current situation regarding the future of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo's "Old First Ward", all parties are set to return to court on Monday to give their arguments on the basis for the City of Buffalo's decision to issue an emergency demolition of the building.
It was a week ago when the Campaign for Greater Buffalo went to court against the City of Buffalo and ADM Milling Co., owner of the Great Northern, to state their case against the emergency demolition order granted to the company by the city. After more than an hour of deliberation, Justice Emilio Colaiacovo offered both sides the option of mediation, which was led by former New York Surrogate Judge, Barbara Howe.
After two days of talks and negotiating through mediation, both sides ended talks with no resolution in place.
While no decision was resolved as a result of mediation, Tim Tielman, Director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, sees this next step of the process as a positive in their directive.
"For us, any opportunity to get more information before the judge is good, so we would look at this as positive," Tielman said. "He wants to make sure he has as much information as he needs to render a decision, so we're happy to do it."
While it is uncertain what happens during Monday's hearing, Tielman believes Justice Colaiacovo needs more information on a number of topics from both parties, and both sides will attempt to state their case further with more evidence.
One thing Tielman does not anticipate on Monday is for Justice Colaiacovo to make a final decision on the fate of the Great Northern grain elevator on the spot.
"Already he has a mountain of things to go through and this will add to that," Tielman said. "I think he would want a period of analysis and reflection before he renders his decisions. I don't think it's going to come immediately after the hearing."
"What I am hoping to see is that all parties act in a reasonable and responsible way," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown during an appearance on WBEN with Brian Mazurowski on Thursday. "We have a dangerously damaged structure, but a historically significant structure. While I personally would like the see the structure preserved, at the same time, the Commissioner of the [Permit and Inspections] has the mandate and the responsibility under the city charter to protect public health and safety."
Before last Monday's court hearing had taken place, Mayor Brown reached out to ADM Milling Co. with a letter to the company's Chief Executive Officer, Juan Luciano. In the letter, Mayor Brown asked the company to make every effort to try and preserve the Great Northern grain elevator.
"ADM is a global corporation, a corporation with billions of dollars in assets," Mayor Brown said. "If any entity has the ability to salvage that structure, has the resources to do it, it is Archer-Daniels-Midland."
While the battle continues in court on Monday, the future plans for the historic 1897 grain elevator continues with the hope that the structure can be saved from emergency demolition. Tielman believes the amount of opportunities the Great Northern possesses for developers and other businesses down the road are extensive.
"Dozens of enterprises can be housed in that vast building on that ground floor alone," Tielman said. "You talk about assets, this things has 400 feet of frontage of the city's ship canal. We'd love to see the canal boat slip, which was actually built on the north side of the elevator, rebuilt, and then you have this wonderful four-story high structure on the top which, presumably could be used for apartments. So it's quite an interesting package."
Monday's court hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. EST in Downtown Buffalo.
