City of Buffalo gets approval to seize neglected Allentown property

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Buffalo officials are taking action after years of frustration dealing with a neglected property in Allentown. Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon announced a judge has granted the city permission to take over 2 St. Louis Place because of the previous owner's inaction.

The property has sat vacant for years. The previous owner, Charles Dobucki, was arrested earlier this year and issued multiple violations related to the building.

Calls for change on St. Louis Place grew after two prominent artists were killed inside their home across the street.

Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski, who represents the Fillmore District, said this is a win for city administration, but also for the community.

"Charles Dobucki has been an unscrupulous slumlord in Allentown for decades," he said. "This is one of five properties that have been vacant and abandoned for decades."

Nowakowski went on to say that constituents have come to him with safety concerns around the property.

"Neighbors have to deal with roof collapses, squatters living there, fires, there was a dead body found there in one time on the porch," he said. "I mean people have been living next to this serious blight for a long time."

Acting Mayor Scanlon echoed those thoughts, saying this is hopefully just the start.

"This stuff cannot continue to take place and ruin neighborhoods," said Scanlon. "This was a property owner who has been a problem for years and enough was enough."

Nowakowski said within the next month or so the city will officially take ownership, turning a longtime eyesore into an opportunity. Once that happens, the property will be moved into the city's inventory where a reference for proposals will then be sent out.

Both Scanlon and Nowakowski said they are considering the property be turned into apartments in the future.