Demolition moratorium for Trico faulted as landmark status is sought

An effort by city lawmakers to at least temporarily hold off on demolition of the Trico complex, a nationally designated historic structure, isnt enough, preservationists said Wednesday.

The Common Council unanimously agreed this week to impose a moratorium on issuing demolition permits for the former windshield wiper factory until Jan. 1. Two weeks ago, the Council rejected an effort to designate the complex as a local landmark.

It doesnt mean much, said city Preservation Board member Tim Tielman. It is window dressing. It would have been much better to get it designated a local landmark.

The Preservation Board had appealed to the Council to designate the Trico complex a local landmark, which would have given the board greater oversight over plans to demolish or re-use the building.

The measure, the second of its kind to come before the Council, failed in a 4-4 vote.

Though Ellicott Council Member Darius G. Pridgen voted against the designation, he sponsored the demolition moratorium and said that if plans to redevelop the complex get under way before the end of the year, he would be open to extending it.

If there is a developer that can be found for Trico, that can do what some folks claim can be done, there is time to do it, Pridgen said.

Principals with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, which has development rights to the sprawling complex at Washington and Goodell streets, were opposed to the landmark status for Trico, but said they would work with Preservation Buffalo Niagara over the next six months to find a reuse for the building.

Hopefully we can build upon the leads they might have had before and help make that happen, Matthew K. Enstice, president and CEO of the Medical Campus, said Wednesday.

The moratorium lengthens that period to seven months and formalizes it beyond a handshake agreement, Pridgen said.

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Demolition moratorium for Trico faulted as landmark status is sought