Every so often something happens to show how "small is beautiful" doesn't necessarily apply to the business sector - that is, to remind us that the fabled Mom and Pop ops have more in common with the WalMarts than we're led to believe.

 

Consider an act of small-scale "urban removal" that a highly successful downtown Rochester restaurant committed recently, prompting me to send the message below (as yet unanswered):

 

"Dear 2 Vine management:

 

"Today, after returning from a few weeks out of town, I saw that the Queen Anne house next to the restaurant has been demolished. I know the house was on the market for several months - after, according to news reports, city officials persuaded you not to tear the building down precipitously - and I assume no buyers stepped forward to rehab it, at least not any buyers who met your conditions.

 

"Of course, I also assume that your treatment of the house, most significantly your failure to put even a temporary roof or barrier on the structure to keep the weather from doing further damage, made the house that much less attractive to potential buyers. But maybe that was your plan: to let the house deteriorate to the point that demolition was the only option left.

 

"I don't doubt that the house was seriously damaged before you acquired it (though the exterior looked remarkably good). But many such buildings - indeed, some with much greater damage - have been resurrected. There should be no disagreement that the Queen Anne had architectural significance, and possibly historical significance, for its neighborhood. It deserved preservation efforts well beyond anything you, the city, or other parties saw fit to do.

 

"The whole episode seems odd, especially in light of the Landmark Society and AIA honors that you trumpet on the your website. Please explain. I know you've done some good things for downtown - but this latest development, or rather anti-development, leaves me disappointed, to say the least."