MAYOR SEAN RYAN ENACTS ‘STABILIZATION FIRST’ POLICY FOLLOWING 60-DAY DEMOLITION MORATORIUM AND REVIEW

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mayor Sean Ryan today announced the City of Buffalo’s new Stabilization First Demolition Diversion Policy, a major shift in how the City addresses vacant and blighted properties.  

The new policy was developed following a review of existing City policies on demolition and property stabilization undertaken by Office of Strategic Planning and Department of Permit and Inspection Services (DPIS) during a 60-day demolition moratorium established by an executive order signed by Mayor Ryan on March 19. 

“Demolition has been treated as the default solution to address blight in the City of Buffalo for too long,” Mayor Sean Ryan said. “We cannot demolish our way out of a housing shortage. This policy represents a new direction for Buffalo that focuses on preservation, stabilization, accountability, and reinvestment.” 

The updated policy prioritizes stabilization and rehabilitation over demolition in an effort to preserve housing stock, strengthen neighborhoods, protect the city’s tax base, and address Buffalo’s ongoing housing shortage. 

Under the updated policy, the City will expand the eligible use of approximately $700,000 in annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding previously dedicated primarily to demolition. Those funds will now also support stabilization efforts, emergency securing of structures, weatherproofing, and other interventions designed to prevent further deterioration and preserve buildings whenever feasible. 

“This initiative is about creating a smarter and more sustainable framework for neighborhood management,” Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines said. “By emphasizing stabilization, proactive maintenance, and earlier intervention, the City is putting itself in a stronger position to preserve property values, reduce long-term costs, and support future redevelopment opportunities. This approach allows us to be more strategic with public resources while helping prevent additional deterioration across our neighborhoods.” 

The policy also prioritizes working collaboratively with property owners making good-faith efforts to repair and maintain structures, while also strengthening enforcement measures when owners fail to act. In cases where emergency stabilization work is required, the City may complete the work directly or through contractors and bill the owner accordingly. 

“Seeing a demolition diversion program emerge from City Hall is all we could have hoped for,” said Bernice Radle, Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo-Niagara. “Preservation creates jobs, supports tourism, and strengthens neighborhoods. This program recognizes the value of older buildings and their materials, and we applaud the City for taking this important step forward.” 

Additional details about reforms outlined by the Stabilization First initiative can be found here. 

The City also released a new Stabilization Plan for the Department of Permits and Inspections that establishes a framework for evaluating, securing, stabilizing, maintaining, and weatherproofing vacant structures while protecting public safety and preserving viable buildings whenever possible. 

“Mayor Ryan’s Demolition Diversion and Stabilization plan challenges us to implement a more strategic approach to stabilizing valued neighborhoods throughout the city,” said Lou Petrucci, Commissioner of the Department of Permits and Inspections. “While demolitions are still part of the plan, when necessary, the new focus is reflective of the community’s desire to preserve our existing housing stock and recognizes that a more measured and deliberate methodology is the best path forward.” 

Key components of the plan include: 

• Initial Assessment and Planning 

  • Documenting and photographing the interior and exterior of buildings, where safe to do so, to evaluate overall condition for identifying hazards, reviewing ownership and violations, and contacting property owners to determine whether they intend to pursue rehabilitation or stabilization efforts. 

• Securing Structures 

  • Securing vacant structures in accordance with Secretary of the Interior guidelines to prevent unauthorized entry, improve public safety, and reduce the likelihood of vandalism, illegal dumping, fires, and further deterioration. When necessary, the City may use third-party contractors to complete emergency securing work and bill the owner accordingly. 

• Evaluation 

  • Evaluating structural conditions and developing stabilization plans designed to prevent collapse, water infiltration, façade failures, and other forms of accelerated deterioration. The City will prioritize reviewing stabilization plans submitted by property owners while also coordinating with licensed professionals when owners fail to act. 

• Stabilization and Coordination 

  • Implementing temporary stabilization measures for structures in immediate danger, including shoring, bracing, securing unsafe façade materials, stabilizing chimneys, and addressing other urgent structural concerns that threaten public safety or neighboring properties. Stabilization measures will be performed by city crews, or the work may be bid out to be performed by a contractor. Owners of properties will be billed accordingly. 

• Maintenance 

  • Establishing ongoing maintenance standards for vacant properties, including debris removal, grass cutting, snow removal, vehicle removal, upkeep of safety postings, and routine inspections to reduce neighborhood impacts and maintain public safety.  

• Proactive Weatherproofing 

  • Taking proactive weatherproofing measures to prevent water infiltration and protect building envelopes from further deterioration, using nationally recognized preservation and mothballing standards as guiding principles whenever practicable. 

Residents are encouraged to report vacant or blighted properties through 311 so the City can evaluate potential stabilization and intervention efforts.