News 4 report prompts demolition of home

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - News 4 brought a derelict property to the attention of city leaders on Thursday. First thing Friday morning, officials toured the home and, based on what they found inside, approved its emergency demolition.

The home on Davey Street has been a thorn in the side of neighbors for the past decade. It was boarded up, but after the property manager came by, people started going in and out. When Kenny Musante confronted a man leaving the vacant house, he was slashed in the face.

On Friday, City Council President Rich Fontana toured the home, which now sports an emergency demolition order posted on it.

"Very, very dangerous situation," Fontana said. "If there was ever a fire here, the firefighters would fall right into the basement as soon as they walked into the property."

Fontana put through the emergency demolition order just hours after he spoke with News 4 on Thursday, and insisted city inspectors tour the property, which has become a haven for squatters. Musante knows how dangerous a situation it became.

"I would hope to catch the guy who did this to my face, that's the main thing," he said. "I didn't deserve this to happen."

Musante used a garbage tote to shield himself from the man who kept swinging a sharp object at his face. He says had the tote not been there, he could have been more severely injured.

The house has been on the city's radar for some times, and a judge ordered it to be torn down weeks ago, determining the house is a danger and demolition is necessary to protect the public.

Fontana says the whole process takes awhile, but the demolition of the house will be moved to the top of the list and it will likely be torn down by the end of next week.

The demolition will cost around $20,000. A city judge ordered the homeowner, Odetta Klopfer, to pay for it.

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News 4 report prompts demolition of home