Right on schedule, the migratory gulls that have plagued downtown buildings the past few years -- most notably the former Latina's location on Ellicott Street -- are returning.
This March, they're getting a slightly different reception.
The one-time Montgomery Ward store has a new owner, V J Gautieri Constructors, Inc., and CEO Vito Gautieri is determined both to get new tenants in the building and keep the gulls away.
"The key is to keep them from nesting," Gautieri said. "Once they nest, we can't touch them."
To that end, employees of Gautieri's were recently on the roof installing streamers and decoy owls (mean-looking ones at that).
Today, the gulls circled the building and cried their perpetually angry sounding cry, but none were landing on the roof.
Friday, Don Burkel, executive director of the Business Improvement District, sent a message to BID members asking them to deal with any developing gull problems promptly.
As the gulls return downtown we should be prepared to resolve any problems that may develop. If they are beginning to nest or create a problem with your property do not hesitate to contact us. We can put in touch with the Wildlife Services who professionalyl deal with these issues promptly.
As for the building on Jackson, Gautieri said he is weeks away from signing at least one new tenant for the building, and possibly two. He said he's had interest in the building from two or three grocery store operators and discount retailers. One particular retailer and one grocery store would be a particularly good fit as neighbors in the building, he said.
"They would be a draw for each other," Gautieri said.
Gautieri recently closed his purchase of the building from Tom Lewin's LKLWL Properties. Lewin made regional headlines late last summer as the city took steps to condemn the building and press code violations charges against the Buffalo-area resident.
Gautieri said it's in his best interest to keep the property clean and gull free, especially if he hopes to attract a grocery store to the location.
The second floor, Gautieri said, will also be available for office space or apartments. The plans are still being drawn up but, in either case, Gautieri said he is planning to install an elevator to help draw tenants to the location.
Gautieri was the contractor who built the structure and he said because of a high water table under the building, it was too expensive to put in a basement, so the second floor was originally designed as warehouse space with the ability to hold a150 lbs.-per-square-foot load.
Can't they get some really
Can't they get some really hungry cats from the animal shelter, and let them live up there?
Looks like "Woodsy" the owl
Looks like "Woodsy" the owl is on steroids. "Give a hoot, don't pollute"..or I kill ya !
I knew they were back when I
I knew they were back when I came out of work and my car was covered! Would be really nice for the issue to be taken care of.
The fact is, theyre going to
The fact is, theyre going to find a new place to land, or realize the owls are fake. We need to get rid of them permently, and the only way that can happen is killing them. Theyre a nuisance no diffrent from a rat you find in your house. The city should hire somone to kill and remove them. They will stop them
Migratory birds are
Migratory birds are protected.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sec_16_00000703----000-.html
Im sure there wiggle room if
Im sure there wiggle room if A: Theyre not endangered and B: They start to pose a health threat to the public. Seagulls are no diffrent then Pigeons if you ask me
Last year, as bad as it was
Last year, as bad as it was at Latina's, they were determined not to be a health threat.
Why didn't the whole downtown
Why didn't the whole downtown business district get together to eliminate this problem. These flying rodents will only move over a building or two and cause the same problems they did last year.
Toss some Alka-Seltzer
Toss some Alka-Seltzer tablets around the area and watch the seagull population go down.
I think there has to be a
I think there has to be a "nicer" way to get rid of them then killing them. I know they are annoying to people and some view them as disgusting... but they ARE living birds, and I think there has to be a better way professionals who know how to deal with wildlife can handle this situation...
decoy owls seem to be working
decoy owls seem to be working @ the moment.
I have to agree with Amanda
I have to agree with Amanda that killing is not an option we should ever think about unless it becomes a health problem!
This morning, it looked to me
This morning, it looked to me like a significant number of gulls were landing on the roof.
Yea it wont take long for
Yea it wont take long for them to figure out there fake!