Housing Committee Minutes – June 2015

Present:  Deb Leary, Donna Sarnacki, John and Joann DeMott, Harlan Ost, Scott Beck, Kathy Goldberg, Kathy O’Neill

May minutes were approved.

Property Reports:

257 Barton St. went up for auction on 6/9 for $101,000. Bank bought it back.

1125 Genesee St. is owned by Kathy Goldberg. She told us that it was a vacant foreclosure sold on the courthouse steps. It was a duplex that they deconverted into a 4 bedroom single family.  Harlan explained that code only permits 3 vehicles in a driveway. Kathy will research if variances were received for widening the driveway and front yard parking.

We will take this one off our list.

John DeMott has sent a list of problematic properties to Gary Kirkmire today (6/11)

We discussed the length of time that banks hold properties. They sit vacant and deteriorate.

New Business:

John mentioned 126 Milton St.  It is a mess. Discussion on adding it to our list.

We spoke about fire diamaged properties and the insurance process.

Deb performed some research on the NYS bill dealing with zombie properties.  It is titled the “Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act of 2014”.  It is sitting in committee in both houses of the State Legislature.  Deb called Sen. Ranzenhoffer’s office to get suggestions on what we can do to get it moving along.  Waiting to hear back.

Kathy O’Neill mentioned Upstate Center report on zombie properties.

Deb to add Scott (sorry, Scott!) and Kathy G. to the email list for the committee.

Deb to contact Laurie Schulman of Realty USA (recommended by Kathy G.) to speak at next meeting about what happens when banks have vacant properties.

We are tabling review of mission and goals until the next meeting due to time constraints.

Next meeting:  July 9^th, 11:00 AM at the NSC Office