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A few months ago, a well-meaning reader messaged with photos of a condemned, historically significance Buffalo Avenue home.
I reached out immediately to Emily Jarnot, Niagara Falls Liaison with Preservation Buffalo Niagara.
She made multiple phone calls and assured me she would not allow any demolition to happen. Time got in the way and I never found a moment to look or think more about it.
Then Max Eddy posted a photo (above) and this caption to Facebook over the weekend:
“The S.F. Arkush House at 154 Buffalo Ave.
Built in 1893. Photo by Max Eddy. 2024
“S.F. Arkush was a City Clerk for Niagara Falls NY in the late 1800's & early 1900's. I saw a ‘Condemned’ sign on the door of this historic home when I walked by the other day. The rumor is that the Holiday Inn wants this torn down for...you guessed it...more parking! At this point I've heard that the building is protected by its historic significance but I'm not sure. However corporations tend to get what they want so it may see demolition. This infuriates me! No appreciation for history or vision for the future! This could be turned into a Niagara themed art gallery or a small museum or even an AirBNB. When/where does this madness end?”
Here is how I responded: Preservation Buffalo Niagara is involved. The owners have had discussions with state officials about grant money available to renovate and move hotel offices there. One activist, when I contacted her about it, told me she contacted Merani Hotel Group and offered to buy it. "This is perfect and I will chain myself to it if demo gets their way."
Another social media commenter challenged me and set me off.
As for the Buffalo Avenue property, we have to rely on Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Bernice Radle, Emily Jarnot and Brett Doster to look out for this through the Historical Preservation Committee.
Our city council showed, with the exception of Brian Archie, to not support preservation last year on the Turtle issue. Consider: There was no discussion of the appropriateness of a designation for The Turtle during the council hearing.
Instead, council members like Traci Bax, Jim Perry and David Zajac were more concerned about whether an Historical Preservation law should even exist. Bax might live in an old house and doesn't want government interference if she needs to replace windows.
Their argument that using a designation like that to protect a property violates the 5th Amendment, which governs property rights. I disagree, but with Merani Hotels having deep pockets and contributions to people like Mayor Restaino, and other council members and politicians, this property is in danger.
In a barbaric sense, the same argument used by Bax, Perry and Zajac to kill the Turtle should eliminate any need for zoning or building codes.
Who is the government to tell me I can't rent my home to Niagara University students or use it as a short term rental? Your laws are impeding on my rights as a practicing capitalist and land owner! What about the Constitution!
All sarcasm aside, that house is in danger and, the same council that would only discuss the appropriateness of the law, not the historical significance of the Turtle, is still only protecting the interests of a privileged, entitled, politically entitled minority.
