Board backs plan for grocery on West Main

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A vacant church building that pit many who live in the West Main Street neighborhood against preservationists who want to save the structure may be demolished — provided a grocery store is the only business that will go in its place.

After two days of emotionally charged public hearings last month, the city Zoning Board of Appeals on Aug. 13 approved the demolition of the building at 660 W. Main St., which dates to the 1870s. Developer Marvin Maye also must have financing in place before a demolition permit is issued.

More work to meet permitting requirements has to be completed before that happens, said Maye, who called the board’s decision fair and in the best interests of the neighborhood.

“We’ll put one step in front of the other in order to complete it,” Maye said. “I’m going to relish the thought of getting through this victory. I know we’ve got work ahead and we’re going to continue to be prepared for it.”

The board met for nearly 30 minutes in executive session to discuss financial information about the proposed vendor before deliberating publicly.

The name of the vendor was not disclosed. Maye also declined to name the vendor.

Most of the six board members said they struggled with the decision to demolish the church.

Board Chairman Joseph O’Donnell said he looked to the hundreds of signatures in support of a grocery as a reason for approving the demolition. While he said he appreciated the passion behind efforts to preserve the building, he noted the church building had been vacant for some time.

Vice Chair Roseanne Khaleel was the only “no” vote on the demolition, saying the board’s action sets a blueprint for letting buildings of historical significance deteriorate until they are blighted in order to gain approvals. In this case, the need for saviors of structures like this “cultural icon” is stymied by private ownership, Khaleel said.

“It distresses me greatly,” Khaleel said.

Maye originally had proposed to demolish the church as part of a 2012 plan that involved bringing a Dollar General store to the site. The building was first owned by Westminster Presbyterian Church and early in the 20th century was used by a German social club. The building had housed the Bibleway Healing Temple until it was sold in 2011.

The Landmark Society of Western New York included the church building on its 2014 “Five to Revive” list to call attention to properties in need of investment.

Dawn Noto, who heads up the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association, was among several neighbors and preservationists who have spoken out the last two years in opposition to both developments because they would involve demolishing the church building.

A month ago she said it appeared the board was prepared to vote against the demolition, but now neighbors are wondering what changed after new information was brought to the board.

“A horrible decision,” Noto said. “We’ve been left out of the loop.”

Residents, many of whom wore T-shirts to demonstrate support of the grocery plan, had told the board they have to travel out of the neighborhood to shop for groceries, which burdens those without access to transportation.

Kate Washington, deputy commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Business and Development, said the plan offers the opportunity for jobs for the community and provides a grocery store in a region that does not have one at this point.

“Of course that’s going to be a great service to the community in that area,” Washington said. “We see it as a great boon to the community.”

In deliberating over other variances, board members expressed concerns over the proposed size of the grocery —18,000 square feet — in a zoning designation that only allows for 6,000-square-foot structures.

Maye was successfully able to convince board members that grocers need a facility of that size to make the business work. Anything less would amount to a corner store, Maye said.

“And that’s not beneficial to the neighborhood,” Maye said.

Board members also noted the grocery would be 4,000 square feet larger than the church building, and would be more beneficial to the neighborhood than allowing the church building to continue to deteriorate.

Attorney Alan J. Knauf, who spoke on behalf of Maye, said a grocery presents no essential change to the character of the neighborhood, which is a commercial district.

Residents on the east side of the city have a Wegmans store and Hart’s Local Grocers, which opens Friday, to shop, while people in the southwest don’t have that and should have that opportunity, he said.

“The benefit to the community, we feel, is huge,” Knauf said.