Brown to Governor: Spare Those Houses! | News

A Statement Released by the Campaign for Greater Buffalo

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown today wrote a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo urging that the Public Bridge Authority's (PBA) rush to demolish a row of historic houses on Busti Avenue be halted until the Peace Bridge Plaza expansion plans are made public. Presently, the PBA has not even released plans to the city showing its plans for an expanded plaza, which would incorporate parts of two blocks in the Prospect Hill neighborhood.

"The Campaign for Greater Buffalo welcomes the Mayor speaking out on behalf of the citizens of Buffalo to insure that a minimum of public review occurs. We find it outrageous that the PBA thinks it is a sovereign nation and can simply bulldoze our houses and heritage and tear up our streets without so much as a 'by your leave.,' said Campaign Executive Director Tim Tielman.

Campaign for Greater Buffalo Assistant Director, Special Projects, Dana Saylor, working on the Peace Bridge issue, said "We have no intention of taking this situation laying down. We are considering all remedies, and welcome all assistance. Anyone who cares about history, heritage, culture, viable urban neighborhoods, and the democratic process itself has to be disturbed by what is going on there these last few weeks. 

"We're heartened by the Mayor's letter," Saylor continued, "the Busti Avenue Row is an irreplaceable architectural and historic asset. There's really no need to take it down, and certainly without knowing what's going to come after. The Mayor is correct; as the representative of the citizens of Buffalo, we should know what the plans of action are and what they entail for the city."