Batavia gives OK for downtown building to come down

The rattletrap eyesore of a building that once housed the Batavia Opera House may soon be demolished.

The Batavia City Council Monday night granted permission to tear down 10 S. Shumway Ave., a two-story wood building with a brick veneer. New owners, architects Kluber, Skahan and Associates, plan to put up a three- or four-story building that could hold stores, offices and residences.

But the demolition permit comes with a condition: The firm must make sure that the vacant site looks nice, once it finishes salvaging any recyclable building materials. What "nice" means will be judged by city officials. Options discussed with the owner include grading the lot and seeding it with grass seed, or putting up a wooden fence with a photograph or artwork depicting what the new building may look like. Official plans and building permit requests have not been filed, only a concept drawing.

Ald. Jim Volk brought up requiring site work in writing, notingoral promises haven't been enough to prevent other sites in town from filling with weeds, gravel and junk after a building is demolished.

"I don't want to see a lumpy, weedy chain-link-fenced lot - another one - in downtown Batavia." Volk said earlier this month at a community development committee meeting, calling for a timeline for demolition to construction.

The measure, approved by the city council, gives the developer until April before any beautifying has to be done, unless there is substantial progress toward obtaining a building permit. In that case, work may not be required, because city officials don't want to make Kluber, Skahan spend money on something that could be moot shortly thereafter. Destruction of the building may take longer than usual because the developer will be saving things such as bricks for reuse, in order to obtain certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design project.

The building was erected in 1880, and has had several additions. It was used as an opera house, a roller-skating rink and a theater; in recent years it housed small businesses. It suffered from two fires. The Historic Preservation Commission determined that the building is in such disrepair that it is not worth spending money to rehabilitate it. It is just to the north of the Old City Hall, which now houses offices and a store.

"You can't tear it down fast enough for me," Volk said.