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Condemnation notice placed on Latina's building

By Howard B. Owens

City officials are ramping up the enforcement action against LKLWL Properties, owners of the Latina's Foodland location on Ellicott Street.

Today, a condemnation notice appeared on the building's doors and a criminal complaint was filed in City Court.

Representatives of LKLWL Properties are being ordered to appear in court on July 23 at 10 a.m. to answer to a charge of creating unsanitary conditions, in violation of city code.

The condemnation notice prevents anybody from entering the building.

Also, based on the feces and feathers on the floor inside of the building, it seems pretty clear that gulls now have access to the interior of the building as well, not just the roof.

City Manager Jason Molino has not been available for comment this afternoon.

UPDATE 4:36 p.m.: City Manager Jason Molino said the court action and the condemnation are two seperate tracks that are part of the same effort to get the property owner to take the condition of the building seriously.

If the gull problem isn't remedied in 30 days, because of the condemnation notification, the city will be able to send crews in to deal with the gulls and clean up the property and then bill the property owner for the work.

"At this point we have to do what we can to try and remedy the situation," Molino said.

Asked about cleaning up the parking lot, which is increasingly covered with feces, Molino said it would be reasonable to consider billing the property owner for any clean up work there.

For previous coverage, click here.

Laura Scarborough

I hope you're allowed in court that day Howard. Do you need to ask special permission from the Judge ahead of time? Get some pictures of the guy that keeps hanging up the phone. I'd love to put a face to the feces lol ;0)

Jul 9, 2010, 3:28pm Permalink
Tim Howe

I am telling you, your all making a big mistake. Batavia ia sitting on a gold mine...white gold that is...GUANO!
A multi million dollar business just waiting to be started.

Jul 9, 2010, 4:12pm Permalink
Sheryl Smigelski

It really looks like a scene from the movie "The Birds" and the smell is noxious and I can't smell that well!!! I sincerely hope they can save the building I worked there when it was Jubilee and can remember it being Montgomery Ward when I was a child. We bought our first color television there (I think)!

Jul 10, 2010, 8:18am Permalink
George Larish II

isnt guano bat poop? if my memory serves me correctly didnt that place used to be super duper too? before it was jubilee? this is going way back so im probably wrong and thinking of the one in attica.

Jul 10, 2010, 10:21am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Sheryl, it was a Montgomery Wards a long time ago. When we first moved out to East Pembroke we visited that store and the Genesee Country Mall. Being from Buffalo We never shopped in Batavia after that trip. I never got a chance to see Batavia till I was old enough to ride my bike in town which was 15 miles one way.

Jul 10, 2010, 2:34pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Tammy; they are scavengers and will basically eat anything a human will, in addition to live small fish and crayfish. I spent a few days a couple of different times in Christchurch, New Zealand in the 80's, there is a city square in the center of the city where people gather and you'll see live music, magic acts, mimes, preachers, Shakespearean actors and political ranters; good entertainment. There is also many food stands and small shops surrounding it. I love a good British fish and chips. Also, there are thousands of those nasty, stinky, squawking gulls everywhere. THey would fly right into you and steal your food out of your hands. New Zealand had laws protecting the gulls and you could literally be arrested for striking the birds. You had to cover it at all times and move around. I hate those things.

Jul 10, 2010, 7:43pm Permalink
Brian Doktor

For some reason these birds seem to have an international protection. Quoting Dave Olsen "New Zealand had laws protecting the gulls and you could literally be arrested for striking the birds." Canada felt the same way. On August 4, 1983, Winfield accidentally killed a seagull by throwing a ball while warming up before the fifth inning of a game at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Fans responded by hurling obscenities and improvised missiles. After the game, he was brought to the Ontario Provincial Police station for the trumped up charge of cruelty to animals. He was released after posting a $500 bond.

Jul 11, 2010, 2:12pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I remember that Brian, You gotta love Number 1 below, even if it was a hated seagull
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y8qGYJeW6w8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><pa… name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y8qGYJeW6w8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Jul 12, 2010, 9:30am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Speaking of 1983, who could forget these guys?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUjIA3Rt7gk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><pa… name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUjIA3Rt7gk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Jul 12, 2010, 9:37am Permalink

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