Robin Garr wrote: But it's different from Azalea/Bauer's, the Vogue, John E's, Colonial Gardens, even Whiskey Row, where the owners could easily have afforded to keep their property up but let them rot until destruction was the only option.
I cant speak to the other properties mentioned, but can say your statement isnt accurate at all with regards to Whiskey Row and its last owner Todd Blue. He bought the buildings after they had been abandoned for decades. Decades.
Not one historical preservation person in town gave a whiff of care about them (similar to many of the other empty rotting former commercial locations downtown) until he bought them and proceeded with plans to rehab them saving just the facades.
THEN everyone was up in arms.
Todd bought them in 07 or 08. They werent landmarked till 2010. No one cared until a developer with deep pockets owned them?
I eat, therefore I am.