Erie County judge reversed demolition order on day of Cobblestone fire, federal agency called in to investigate

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Erie County judge reversed the demolition order of a South Park Avenue on the same day that it caught fire, while a federal agency has been called in to investigate the blaze, Buffalo mayor Byron Brown said Tuesday.

Judge Sheila DiTullio reversed the decision after a previous order to demolish the building.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has also been called in to investigate the cause of the blaze, at the request of the Buffalo Fire Department. The fire broke out at 110-118 South Park on the evening of June 18. Damage was estimated at $1.1 million.

“We do have some concerns that the fire is suspicious,” Brown said Tuesday. “And that’s what the investigation is all about. We will see where the investigation leads.”

The structure, which dates back to the 1800s and is one of the oldest buildings in Buffalo, will not be demolished, officials said last week.

The building’s owner, Darryl Carr, had been fighting the city in an eminent domain case. Carr wanted to redevelop the space while the city wanted to save it. Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara Bernice Radle said Carr has wanted to demolish the building for a decade. Preservationists have been trying to save the building for a decade.

Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said that Carr will be interviewed as part of the investigation.

“In the case of the Cobblestone, they didn’t have any utilities, no gas, no electric going through the building,” Renaldo said. “These buildings generally don’t start themselves on fire, so it is suspicious in nature.”

The ATF investigates serious fires, including “acts of arson and bombings,” among other cases. It was last called into the Western New York area to investigate the March 2023 fire that killed Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno. Renaldo said that the ATF also offered its services to investigate the fire that destroyed The Old Pink in Allentown one day before the fire at Cobblestone.

“The coincidence of these events is gravely concerning and necessitates a comprehensive investigation to ensure the safety and preservation of our historic buildings,” Fillmore District Buffalo Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski said in a statement Tuesday.

The bureau is expected to be on the scene and inside the building within the coming days, possibly on Tuesday.

You can view Tuesday’s full update in the video player above.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .