The Hamilton Ward House at 19 Coe Place will soon meet its end if its owner, the non profit Belmont Shelter corporation, has its way. BRO first reported on this house and the unique opportunity offered by the wonderful urban street scape that is Coe Place several months ago. This very interesting street presents a unique opportunity to start rebuilding the ravaged east side. Not only is this a beautiful delicately scaled street of very nice mostly intact Victorians, it is also directly adjacent to the $15 Million Art Space project that appears to have recently started construction. One of the primary goals of the Art Space organization is to seed failing neighborhoods that have growth potential with the energy of creative people to promote that growth. Yet even as this major investment in urbanity proceeds there are those who are moving to eliminate the very urban fabric that will support growth.
Belmont Shelter has applied for a permit to demolish 19 Coe Place and seed the lot. No new use is being proposed but, it would join two other vacant weed filled lots which Belmont is allegedly interested in purchasing on each side of the Hamilton Ward house. Demolition of the house would create one big continuous street killing empty lot. Looking just south and west of the house to the Shelter's giant parking lot leaves little doubt what could lay in the future for this swath of land.
The application to demolish this property will go before the Preservation Board this Thursday (update) June22nd starting at 3:00 p.m. on the 9th floor of City Hall. These meetings are open to the pubic. I do not know if the public is allowed to speak but, if you are interested in helping saving this house and this street, your presence certainly can't hurt.
Read more about Coe Place and the current issues surrounding the Hamilton Ward house at Fix Buffalo.