2640 Monroe St.
I think you both make good points... under normal circumstances I would be completely opposed to building demolition, and that building did have the potential to be re-developed. However, the reasons I'm okay with it in this particular case are the same reasons one could advocate for its redevelopment: its in the old West End and right by the museum. I live around the block from there, a few doors down from the Old West End commons, and poeple pour their heart into keeping that up. If the OWE association has a plan for the property, that's great. However, if they don't, this gives the museum some space to do something with, or, hopefully, gives a private commercial developer some space to build on. I want a coffee shop (besides the glass pavilion's, which isn't too shabby but could be way better, I mean a real neighborhood coffee shop with a kitchen/bakery and all that), or a restaurant, or a video store, or dammit something in the OWE, and I can't really blame the developers on this one, because there is simply little to no commercial zoning in the OWE (the exception being the corner of Delaware and Collingwood, which has maybe the best soul food place in town). I say re-zone this commercial and build something that will benefit the neighborhood. Ideally, a small grocery would be awesome!!
My point is, I don't see this property sitting vacant and creating a gap, unless it does so as a park. There actually has been a decent amount of redevelopment around this corridor in the past five or so years. There is a new Bank, a newer Rite Aid, a new middle school, the redevelopment of the old St. Martin's into Englewood Peace Academy.. and the commercial properties on monroe/bancroft are pretty much occupied, as far as I can tell.
I do lament the loss of a near 100 year old building... However, I can't imagine Carty would be so concerned about demolition unless he was trying to take credit for pushing through someone else's idea, so maybe something is already in the works...?