Batavia council approves demolition of River Street smokestack amid preservation debate

The Batavia City Council approved a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a deteriorated 110-foot chimney at 25–31 North River Street, voting 11–3 after extended public comment and council debate.

Property owner Claire Keane presented an engineering assessment that found significant interior deterioration — including visible light through the liner, cracking and corroded members — and described the structure as a safety risk. Keane said specialists who examine chimneys concluded the chimney was not structurally sound and that some repair techniques were infeasible. “We have to go inside, we have to look at it... and once he went inside, that's where he got the photos, where you can see the light through it,” Keane said, summarizing the engineer’s findings.

Preservation advocates urged the city to pursue alternatives. Kate Garrett of the local history museum testified that the chimney is part of downtown Batavia’s historic fabric: “Once you lose your history, a monument does not replace it,” she said, urging the council to seek restoration estimates and possible grant funding before authorizing full demolition.

Members of the Historic Preservation Commission had recommended a partial demolition to 22 feet 7 inches—removing the highest, compromised portion while retaining a lower segment—so that a remnant could be stabilized and interpreted. Council members who voted to allow the full demolition said a safety-focused engineering assessment and the risk of prolonged vacancy supported removal; others cautioned that the city had not exhausted grant and rehabilitation pathways and asked staff to develop a preservation funding strategy.

By approving the certificate of appropriateness, the council authorized the owner to proceed with demolition under city permit requirements. Several aldermen asked staff to include historic-preservation funding options and a broader River Street review on future committee agendas.