295 Linwood Avenue

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February 2015

2016

May 2017

February 15, 2018
Photo credit: Christina Lincoln, John Straubinger, Zillow, John Straubinger

295 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo NY 14209

Owner

  • Jesse Hawker, 295 Linwood Ave, LLC (Dec 2017)
  • Previously Midland Mortgage Company of Oklahoma City had foreclosed on Yolanda A. Spencer

MIDFIRST BANK per City of Buffalo Property Information NYS Corporation and Business Entity Database

Physical Description

  • 2 1/2 story, 4,190 sq.ft. house with mansard roof, built in Second Empire style with a later Victorian addition on the front.

Current Condition

  • Demolished.
  • At time of demolition, it retained original details including hardwood floors, pocket doors, fireplaces, corbels, and wood windows, none of which were salvaged.

History

  • 1920-1981 - Owned by Augustus H. Shearer
  • 1996 - Purchased by Yolanda A. Spencer, the house's fourth owner.

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • 2013 - Foreclosed on by, and now the responsibility of, Midland Mortgage Company of Oklahoma City. Taxes are current.
  • 2016 - Someone applied a shoddy white paint job on the house years after its abandonment and foreclosure
  • May 2017 - Appears to be listed for sale for $84,900 per Zillow.com. No for sale sign or realtor info available on site.
  • July 2017 - Listed for sale.
  • December 2017 - Jesse Hawker's 295 Linwood Ave, LLC purchased the house from Midfirst Bank for $96,000
  • February 8, 2018 - 295 Linwood Ave, LLC will seek approval at the next Preservation Board meeting for demolition of the house in a historic district they just bought two months ago, because they are already unwilling or unable to perform the repairs it needs. Their intention is replacement with a new apartment building and a backyard parking lot.
  • February 8, 2018 - Shockingly, the Preservation Board voted 6-2 in favor of demolition, despite it being a contributing structure of a historic district with no proof of hardship by the new owners.
  • February 14, 2018 - House demolished.

Other Pertinent Facts

  • Located in the Linwood Avenue Local Historic District.
  • This was a "zombie house" as defined under New York State law.
    • Banks and mortgage companies are required by law to maintain houses they've foreclosed on that have become vacant.
    • Citizens may report un-maintained zombie houses in New York State by calling 800-342-3736. This report would add the property to a registry maintained by NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS). Complaints may also be filed at the DFS complaint page.
    • If a property is not already in the registry, DFS will identify the mortgage servicer and begin the process of ensuring the property is maintained.

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Added 2016-10-17 • Last changed 2018-02-24