A red brick house is the center of a dispute between local developers and neighbors.

The home, which was built in 1907 and has been vacant for the last 12 years, may be demolished for a construction project.

But a local preservation group is working to stop that, saying the house holds historical significance.

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture held a rally on Saturday morning in protest to the demolition of the Franks House at 184 West Utica Street.

"A team of developers want to build a very large townhouse project and they insist in order to maximize the project that they need to tear down both this house, which is a very rare house,” said Tim Tielman, the executive director of the campaign.

Rare, because Tielman says this is a Flemish Revival style house designed by architect Albert Schallmo. This style is marked by its stepped gable and it’s constructed with brick and stone.

"There are very few houses like this in Buffalo,” said Tielman.

Sinatra Development and Ellicott Development applied for the demolition permit.

According to the City of Buffalo, when anyone applies for a demolition permit, the building in question must be reviewed by the city's Preservation Board, which will look at the historical significance of a structure.

Research found this home may hold historical value and as a result the campaign filed a City of Buffalo landmark application to protect the house.

"There are ways the developers can make what they have to make out of the project,” said Tielman. “If they are unsympathetic, they should sell it to someone in the neighborhood who's more than happy to restore it."

The Preservation Board will vote on the landmark application at a public hearing February 25th at 4:00 p.m.

If they approve it, the landmark application will move onto the Common Council.

If the Common Council approves the building as a landmark, then Tielman says it would be hard for the demolition to take place.

They encourage people to write to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and ask him to “save the house” in their letters.

Spectrum News reached out to both Sinatra and Ellicott Development and has not yet received a comment.