Land Bank: City’s Ally In Urban Blight Battle, Post-Journal

From the Jamestown Post Journal

Vacancy appeared to be the property's status for the foreseeable future, too. It had been on the market for years before being foreclosed upon. Roof, floor, porch, electrical and plumbing work that was long needed made purchasing the home an iffy proposition for most homebuyers. It was exactly the sort of property where one could have expected a suspiciously set fire sometime in the future without some sort of intervention.

Thankfully, 1115 Prendergast Ave. has had its intervention.

Jamestown code officers noted the home as a prospect for renovation and relayed that information to Vince DeJoy, city development director. The property was then purchased by the Chautauqua County Land Bank, which partnered with the Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corp. to renovate the house and find a buyer. A buyer has signed a purchase contract and will work with CHRIC on credit and budget counseling. Best of all, 1115 Prendergast will remain a single-family, owner-occupied home in a city where that status is becoming less and less normal.

It took decades of bad news for Jamestown's neighborhoods to reach their current status and it will take decades to restore them to proper health. The city has a worthy ally, however, in the Chautauqua County Land Bank.