Fire breaks out in Cobblestone neighborhood

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A fire broke out Tuesday evening at 110-118 South Park Avenue in the Cobblestone neighborhood of downtown Buffalo.

The fire was first reported around 7:50 p.m. Officials said the fire started on the first floor of the vacant building and spread throughout.

The fire is currently not under control, Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said around 9:30 p.m.

“We have to maintain our safe distance because a few walls are compromised,” Renaldo said. “Bricks are falling, things of that nature. »

Tuesday night’s firefighters were the same crew that battled The Old Pink fire early Monday morning.

“As you know, it’s a really sad day again in the Fillmore district because The Old Pink was in my district as well,” said Buffalo City Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. “These are two catastrophic fires, which could potentially lead to their demolition.”

The building’s owner, Darryl Carr, was fighting the city in a major dominion case. Carr wanted to redevelop the space while the city wanted to save it. Nowakowski said the building has been the subject of lawsuits and lawsuits for 15 years.

“Why is it so ridiculous that as a council member I don’t want a historic structure to come down for surface parking?” he said. “It’s been a struggle, and for me, I think if you want to call yourself a Buffalonian, you have to love our beautiful architecture that can never be duplicated again.”

Preservation Buffalo Niagara Executive Director Bernice Radle said Carr has wanted to demolish the building for a decade.

“He didn’t listen to the housing court’s pleas to fix the problem, nor to the community who begged him to make it safe,” Radle said.

She said preservationists have fought for decades to save the building, which dates back to the 1800s, from demolition.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Watch Nowakowski and Renaldo talk about the fire in the video player below.