A deteriorating 19th-century building at 19 Columbia St. in Clyde was demolished on Feb. 26 due to structural failures, including collapsed walls, a caved-in roof, and a compromised second floor. The Finger Lakes Times reports that the Wayne County Regional Land Bank, which acquired the property through tax foreclosure, initially hoped to restore it but deemed it beyond repair.
The demolition, costing over $230,000, was necessary to prevent further damage to neighboring buildings. Land Bank Director Kaleigh Flynn emphasized safety concerns, noting collaboration with local officials. No redevelopment plans have been announced for the site.
Part of the Clyde Historic District, the building was an example of late 19th-century Italianate commercial architecture linked to the Erie Canal and railroad commerce. A 2017 survey had classified it as being in “fair” condition before its decline.
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