All 8 Busti Av. homes to be demolished

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The demolition of eight homes on Buffalo's West Side that have been involved in an ongoing property battle against the Peace Bridge Authority, will officially resume.

The restraining order was lifted and announced on Friday by Federal Judge Jeremiah McCarthy. Concerns with the Peace Bridge plaza expansion project began around April 2012. Anger with the public set in following talks of taking down the homes for good.

Related | The demolition was put on hold in June when a judge issued a temporary restraining order to pause plans to tear down the homes along Busti Avenue.

As of Saturday, Feburary 23, two of the eight, vacant homes in line for demolition have already been taken down.

In a recent release, PBA Board Member Sam Hoyt commented on the demolition stating: "The Authority is pleased to be able resume its efforts to remove these blighted properties from the West Side neighborhood."

The Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association made a statement on the demolition saying: "We’re very disappointed that Judge McCarthy’s decision came on a Friday giving us no opportunity to take additional action. Why the rush to demolish Busti Row the day after the court’s ruling?"

A landscaping plan is in place for this Spring which will include attractive green space that will cover the areas of where the homes used to be.