Give the guy credit, Darryl Carr keeps pushing forward on his long-held plans to demolish the Blacksmith Shop in the Cobblestone District. No matter the City currently navigating the arduous eminent domain process to acquire the buildings at 110-118 South Park Avenue. No matter the City paying Regional Environmental Inc. $395,000 to stabilize the fire-damaged structures to allow for future redevelopment. Carr wants to demolish the buildings to construct his planned 55-story Unity Tower project.

Carr is heading to the Preservation Board tomorrow seeking its blessing to demolish what's left of the structures "to slab." From the application from Wargo Enterprises submitted on September 12:

In reference to 110- 118 South Park Avenue, there was a major fire within the buildings in June 2024. The structures were severely damaged by the fire beyond repair. In its current state, the structures pose a risk to public safety & health. The property owner has contracted with Wargo Enterprises Inc, a licensed City of Buffalo demolition contractor, to demolish these buildings to grade/concrete slab only. Once the buildings have been demolished and the risk to public safety & health has been mitigated, the owner can then assess/address the necessary subsurface testing require to continue with substructure removal and/or redevelopment. That step cannot be taken without removal of the collapsed and structurally compromised buildings.

"The City of Buffalo has invested nearly $400,000 in the building to stabilize the historic property after the fire this past June," says Bernice Radle, Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. "Why he is here trying to demolish the property is beyond me. The Preservation Board needs to deny this demolition request."