Powerful winds on Dec. 11 caused a significant partial collapse of the northern wall of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo. The battle over the historic structure's future was in court Monday, when the judge ruled the sides have a week to figure it out, before the court decides for them.
“We certainly will cooperate with what the judge has directed and we'll be back, back here when the judge has a decision,” said Brian Melber, representing Archer Daniels Midland, as he quickly walked out of court.
ADM owns the 1897 grain elevator and has applied to the City of Buffalo for emergency demolition. The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture doesn’t want to see the landmark demolished.
“The big point is that that inside the steel, huge, enormous steel grain elevator that holds up everything,” said Richard Berger, a lawyer for CGB.
Berger said the gaping hole that is visible as you drive south down Ganson Street by Riverworks is fixable and not reason enough to tear the whole thing down.
“The bricks are really a decoration around the front. They don't do anything. They're not they're not structural, they don't hold up anything,” Berger said.
But that same gaping hole is the reason for so much concern and the quick pace of this case.
State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaiacovo ruled that both sides have a week to try and find a solution through mediation. If they don’t, a ruling will be made based on the laws that exist.
Attorney Richard Lippes, representing the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture: parties are wasting no time and heading into mediation this morning at 11:30 a.m. They have one week to try to come to an agreement @WBFO pic.twitter.com/CQkoRPNP0S
— Emyle Watkins (@EmyleWatkins) December 27, 2021
