Crestline Development LLC is seeking to demolish two buildings along Michigan Avenue downtown. The pair of buildings are behind the recently opened Lofts @ 136 project between North Division and East Eagle streets (see 2009 story here). The owner purchased the properties containing 17,000 sq.ft. of space in 2004 for $105,000.
Empire Building Diagnostics applied to demolish the structures in January on behalf of the property owner. Crestline owns a non-descript property at 151-53 E. Eagle that it claims to want to redevelop but the Michigan Avenue buildings are said to be in the way from formulating a reuse plan.
The weak case is contained in a January 24 letter to the Buffalo Preservation Board:
The buildings at 390-402 Michigan have not been occupied since prior to the current owners taking ownership. This entire block is being redeveloped with the completion of the AC Lofts Project. Crestline would like to develop the stable structure at 151-153 East Eagle but the deteriorating buildings at 390-402 Michigan are preventing an analysis and comprehensive plan being formulated. The City has cited the properties as unsafe. Crestline is looking to remove the buildings along Michigan so that a final plan for the 151-152 East Eagle building can be finalized.
The vacant land will be integrated into the redevelopment of 151-153 East Eagle.
Last week the Preservation Board tabled the demolition request.
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