BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - For years, neighbors behind Amigone's Crematory on Sheridan Drive have complained about the smell of human flesh emitting into their neighborhood.
Ron Labuda, who lives in the neighborhood immediately behind the crematory, voiced his outrage about the issue for years. Recently, he said a new neighbor approached him about the smell of a burning oven.
"I had to laugh and say 'yeah, something was burning in an oven. It's right over there'," he said, pointing to the crematory.
State lawmakers are now looking to improve the quality of life for those in that neighborhood. In a news conference on Friday, State Senator Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Bill Conrad announced their sponsorship of a bill that would effectively allow Amigone to move without facing any consequence. Under current state law, a single building cannot have a funeral home and crematory. The Sheridan Drive Crematory was exempt from that because they were already operating prior to when the Anti-Combination Act passed in 1998.
Amigone could not move because they would then no longer have both services. The new bill would give them an exemption.
"This is a win-win," Ryan said. "It will allow Amigone to continue their business operations. But more importantly, it would move them from this neighborhood and finally give the neighbors a permanent solution."
Conrad said he has heard about the issue for years and said not only has the crematory impacted their quality of life, but it has reduced property values.
"These folks have lived here before the crematory was put up," Conrad said. "This isn't something where they chose to live here...They put this crematory in after. The crematory board has basically prevented Amigone from moving in the town, saying it would violate the Anti-Combination Law of 1998."
Both bills were introduced last month and are currently in the committee process.
Conrad and Ryan said Amigone is supportive of the bill because they would no longer have a public relations nightmare whenever emissions impact the neighborhood.
The crematory most recently made headlines in September 2020 when a plume of black smoke emitted from the building. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a violation later that month.
"Sheridan Park is not performing cremations at this time and should not resume cremations pending DEC's review of Sheridan Park's internal report on last Wednesday's incident as well as the full and complete demonstration that Sheridan Park is employing DEC-required and -approved corrective measures," the DEC said in a statement last year. "DEC will continue to require full compliance under all state air quality requirements to ensure the public's health and the environment are fully protected. Additional information will be provided when it is available."
The crematory reopened again in January. It was also closed from 2012 to 2018 for violating state clean air laws.
