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Latina's update: time for weeding

By Howard B. Owens

Last year, city workers had to remove the weeds from around the seemingly rotting Latina's building, billing the property owner for the abatement.

LKLWL Properties out of Amherst may be in for another bill from the city if owner Tom Lewin doesn't deal with the growing weed problem soon.

BID Director Don Burkel said he spoke with Lewin the other day and he said Lewin was adamant that he's not going to do anything with the building, neither in regards to upkeep nor selling the property.

I called Lewin this morning and left a voice mail asking him to confirm whether that's his position. No call back yet.

Of course, most of us call the building the Latina's building because that's still the company name on the side of the structure. 

I called Latina's Food Services out of Tonawanda and asked if a company spokesman would comment on any potential public-relations problem in having a decrepit building in the middle of Batavia with its name on it. No official spokesman would come to the phone. The only response was through a receptionist who said he was told to say, "We don't own the building."

Previously:

Laura Scarborough

I've been following the reports on this building and the owner, he's what you call an absentee slum lord. Since he's based out of Buffalo and does not live here he does'nt care about Batavia. Perhaps someone with all the information on this story should get a hold of Channel 2 tip line (WWW.WGRZ.com)and see if they will put this on TV and perhaps just perhaps if this guy gets news coverage where he "DOES" live and maybe get a little red in the face, he just might do something about it.

Jun 24, 2010, 12:21pm Permalink
Anthony Timberlake

Its disgusting. There should be a rule somewhere in the city code that allows them to take over this...or at least establishing something for the future.

Jun 24, 2010, 1:07pm Permalink
John Roach

Anthony,
I understand what your saying, but the city ending up with the building means the tax payers have to pay. I'd rather see the owners in court and have to pay fines.

This is a group that owns the building. Are any local people partners?

Jun 24, 2010, 2:00pm Permalink
JoAnne Rock

I took your advice Laura, and sent WGRZ an email through their tip line. Since I am not someone with all the information on this story, I included a link to The Batavian so that they could learn more about the problem and see the photos. Let's hope that the squeaky wheel really does get the grease.

Jun 24, 2010, 2:12pm Permalink
jason reese

This is where leadership comes into play. Instead of babying the owners, the City Manager and the leaders of Batavia, NY, need to tell LKLWL You have 72 hours to begin cleaning this property. If after 72 hours LKLW, doesn't respond, The city of Batavia, through a court order, Takes the deed or title from the owners.
The City, could either refurbish or tear down the building.
Then make LKLW pay for court fee's and whatever action, the City needs to get this issue resolved.
Jason D Reese
www.jasonreesemedia.com

Jun 24, 2010, 2:31pm Permalink
Joe Lullo

If the gov't were to take his property they would have to reimburse him of equal or greater value of the building plus moving costs. Now if he stoped paying his taxes then the gov't could take it. Eminent domain can really only be used when the gov't is constructing a public place and there is no other way around the property or land. In most cases eminent domain fails because it's a long legal battle.

Jun 24, 2010, 3:33pm Permalink
Brenda Ranney

So can someone explain to me the difference between LKLWL & myself? We're both property owners in the city of Batavia. Yet only one of us will get a bright yellow notice on our front door for an unkept yard.
All that money spent on vintage style lamp posts & quaint sidewalks on Jackson Street.

Jun 24, 2010, 3:54pm Permalink
John Roach

Brenda,
LKLWL did get a notice and they are going to court, again. They have had them before and have been fined. Problem is they just don't care.

Jun 24, 2010, 4:13pm Permalink
anne crotzer

Why do some get treated differently?
Has anyone seen the former Christina's property?
It has been surrounded with an unsightly temporary fence since it burned down. Also weeds, looks like CRAP!
The city needs to start picking on the big boys, instead of little old ladies who put their trash by the curb one day early!

Jun 25, 2010, 7:00am Permalink
Duane Preston

What about the building on Swan Street, where the bricks are falling out of the top of the building. There was a fence and plywood around the front of the building for years and it looks like nothing was done to remedy the falling bricks. I think they took the fence away. If someone gets hurt walking down the sidewalk, is the city liable for not enforcing the corrective action years ago and currently?

Jun 25, 2010, 9:14am Permalink
jason reese

Thanks for the reply. First it wouldn't be unconstitutional, because i was handed a court order. If you don't get a court order, and lklwl doesn't respond, you have another, depleted and rundown building, in the city of Batavia.
Here's the problem, if Batavia doesn't want more empty buildings, take the initiative and do something instead of just talking about it.

Jun 25, 2010, 3:42pm Permalink
jonathan bell

i see alot of people complaining about the weeds but why hasnt anyone gone to walmart and bought a 15 dollar bottle of roundup and just sprayed it. obviously the owner doesnt care and the city is to busy. redfield parkway used to raise money and plant flowers every year i dont know if they still do its been a while but if you want your city to look good instead of complaining step up and do something yourself. NY is BROKE theyre not gonna waste time on things like this when they have bigger things to concern themselves with

Jun 25, 2010, 7:38pm Permalink

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