Human Remains Likely Under Demolition Site

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A lonely spot on Buffalo's east side is about to be disrupted by demolition.

The site sits on a plot of land at Best and East North Streets, right by City Honors High School. Human remains have been found there before and now there's question about how possible future remains would be handled, with the demolition approaching.

The fact that the Woodson Gardens Apartment complex is still standing could be dangerous. Windows are dilapidated and wood panels look like they've been chewed off.

The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority owns the restricted property and is getting ready to take it down this spring.

"We want to do what's in the best interest of the community as a whole and right now, the first thing that we need to do is focus on abatement and demolition," said Dawn Sanders-Garrett, the executive director of BMHA.

A contractor has been selected to demolish the 14 filthy buildings there. Crews will have to make sure all utilities are cut inside, clean up the area and fill in foundations. During this process it's possible human remains will be found.

The chances of finding bones under the muddy ground are good. In June 2008, about 125 pieces of human remains were found when City Honors, which is across the street, was renovating.

"There were really no records kept, who was buried here, we don't have any site maps," said archaeologist Doug Mooney at the time.

In Dec. 2007, a team of archeologists found remains of three adults and a child 10 feet under the front lawn at the school.

"I think anyone going in there with foreknowledge will be particularly, I think careful and observant, one would hope so," said Tim Tielman of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, "If an operator sees something or a supervisor sees something in the ground, they [should] be very sensitive."

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Human Remains Likely Under Demolition Site