Depew trustees authorize demolition of three unsafe buildings; notice and public hearings required

At its April 14 meeting the Village of Depew Board of Trustees unanimously approved three separate resolutions authorizing the demolition of properties the village's code enforcement officials have declared unsafe: 72 South Bellevue Avenue, 29 South Warsaw Street and 163 Keefer Avenue. Each resolution sets out the finding that the building is unsafe, requires notice to owners and requires the board to hold a public hearing at least five days after notice is served; the village will charge demolition expenses to the land and assess, levy and collect those costs.

The resolutions rely on findings set out under Village Law as cited in the motions: the board recorded that the supervising code enforcement officer prepared reports concluding the buildings meet the statutory definitions of unsafe structures. The stated conditions included damage by fire or other causes, dilapidation or decay that renders structures unfit for human habitation, inadequate light/air/sanitation, violations of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, and continuous vacancy for one year or longer without adequate safeguards against unauthorized entry. In each case the board concluded the buildings could not be safely repaired and authorized the supervising code enforcement officer to proceed with demolition subject to the procedural notice and hearing requirements.

The motions follow the village’s demolition process as summarized in the resolutions: after passage the village will serve notice to the owner, executor, administrator, agent or any person with a recorded interest; a public hearing before the board will be scheduled no less than five days after that notice; and if the owner does not comply the village will proceed with demolition (by village employees or contract), with demolition costs charged to the property and subject to assessment and collection.

Votes and addresses: - 72 South Bellevue Avenue — motion approved (roll call unanimous). The resolution cited Village Law and the code enforcement officer’s April 2025 report listing unsafe conditions including fire damage, dilapidation, inadequate amenities, violation of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, and vacancy; it found repair unsafe and authorized demolition and the statutory notice/hearing process. - 29 South Warsaw Street — motion approved (roll call unanimous). The board recorded similar findings from the code enforcement officer’s April 2025 report and the same procedural directives for notice, hearing and cost assessment. - 163 Keefer Avenue — motion approved (roll call unanimous). The resolution likewise documents fire or other damage, dilapidation, inadequate light/air/sanitation, violation of state fire/building code and continuous vacancy, and directs notice, hearing and charging demolition expenses to the land.

The board’s motions were procedural and followed the statutory demolition process described in the resolutions. No demolition contractors, cost estimates or firm demolition dates were provided in the meeting record; village staff said notices will be served and public hearings scheduled after the notices are issued. The resolutions state demolition expenses "will be charged against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied, and collected."

Next steps: village staff will serve notice to interested parties and will schedule the statutorily required public hearings (no fewer than five days after notice). If owners do not abate the unsafe conditions, the village intends to proceed with demolition and assess the costs to the property tax roll.

Background: board members said the properties have been under review since 2022–2023 in some cases; two of the properties had long vacancies and liens or title issues delayed earlier removal work. The building department reported earlier in the meeting that two properties had been vacant for many years and one had been fire‑damaged four years earlier and not repaired.

The board carried all three demolition resolutions by unanimous roll call votes and set the procedural steps required by Village Law to move toward demolition if owners do not act.