Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A property owner long accused of neglect has been convicted. A Buffalo Housing Court decision found Charles Dobucki guilty of all 55 housing violations across four Buffalo properties.
The cases involving 2 St. Louis Place, 102 Johnson Park, 42 Cottage Street, and 377 Maryland Street—all located in the Fillmore District—were heard Thursday, September 10, 2026. Dobucki failed to appear in court. After the City presented its case, the court found Mr. Dobucki guilty of every violation and issued a bench warrant for his failure to appear. Dobucki faces up to $82,500 in fines and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 24, 2026.
“These properties have been a problem in my district for far too long,” said Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. “My constituents deserve better than having these vacant and deteriorating buildings on their blocks. I’m grateful to the City’s lawyers and the Department of Permit and Inspection Services for remaining diligent and putting together a strong case.”
Nowakowski says he advocated for enforcement action against Dobucki and the restoration of his properties to productive use. He said today’s court decision should be followed by continued efforts to address the conditions of the properties and ensure they have a future.
“I will not allow these properties to remain vacant and neglected indefinitely,” Nowakowski added. “The City needs to see them stabilized, restored, and put back into productive use. This is accountability.”
Nowakowski says Dobucki’s properties have been the subject of code violations, 311 complaints, and neighborhood frustration for years, including at 2 St. Louis Place, a building that sat vacant for years, and the condition of which gained public attention after the murders of Mickey Harmon and Jordan Calotto at their home across the street.
He says the city subsequently pursued abandonment proceedings against 2 St. Louis Place, ultimately taking control of the property in late 2025. The City will soon be reissuing a request for proposals seeking a buyer to redevelop the property, creating a path for the long-vacant building to once again become a productive part of the neighborhood.
Nowakowski says at 102 Johnson Park, years of neglect culminated in the partial collapse of a rear wall in April. Nowakowski adds he previously raised concerns about the property’s condition and proximity to neighboring homes, noting that other residents were living just feet away from the deteriorated wall. The City immediately and successfully pursued stabilization efforts at the property.
42 Cottage and 377 Maryland Street have likewise faced years of vacancy, deterioration, and code enforcement issues, creating ongoing challenges for neighboring residents. He says there is also a precedent for what can happen when one of these properties is finally placed in responsible hands. 40 Cottage Street, another property formerly owned by Dobucki, went through a receivership process, which ultimately returned the property to productive use.
“Like much of the country, Buffalo is in the middle of a housing crisis, and we cannot afford to have viable housing stock sitting idle for years,” Nowakowski said. “We have already seen what is possible when we intervene and get these properties into the hands of people who are willing to invest in them. These buildings can be restored and actively contribute to our neighborhoods.”
The case highlights the range of tools available to the City of Buffalo when properties are allowed to deteriorate, including Housing Court enforcement, abandonment proceedings, receivership, liens, and foreclosure. Used effectively, those tools can protect neighborhoods while creating a path for neglected properties to be restored.
“Remediation does not end at a court judgment,” Nowakowski said. “Justice, in this case, is about making sure these buildings have a future. Our residents deserve to see these properties stabilized, restored and contributing to the neighborhoods they sit in.”
Charles Dobucki is scheduled to return to Housing Court on November 24, 2026 for sentencing.
