Fire breaks out in Cobblestone District

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A fire broke out at 110-118 South Park Avenue in downtown Buffalo's Cobblestone District Tuesday evening.

The fire was first reported around 7:50 p.m. Officials said the fire started on the first floor of the vacant building and spread throughout.

The fire is currently not under control, Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said around 9:30 p.m.

"We have to maintain our standoff distance because a couple of walls are compromised," Renaldo said. "We have bricks falling, things of that nature."

Tuesday night's firefighters are the same crew who fought the fire at The Old Pink early Monday morning.

"As you know, it's a really sad day in the Fillmore District, yet again, as The Old Pink was also in my district," Buffalo City Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said. "These are two catastrophic fires, which could potentially lead to both of them being demolished."

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. Nowakowski said the building has been in and out of court cases for 15 years.

“Why is it so ridiculous that I as a councilmember don’t want a historic structure to fall down for a surface parking lot?" he said. "This has been a fight, and to me I think if you’re going to call yourself a Buffalonian, you have to love our beautiful architecture that can’t be replicated ever again.”

Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara Bernice Radle said Carr has wanted to demolish the building for a decade.

"He hasn't listened to housing court requests to fix it up nor has he listened to the community who has begged him to secure it," Radle said.

She said preservationists have been fighting to save the building, which dates back to the 1800s, from demolition for decades.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Watch Nowakowski and Renaldo speak about the fire in the video player below.