Land Bank Discusses New Policy For Preparing Properties For Market By: Dennis Phillips, Post-Journal

From the Jamestown Post Journal

According to the minutes of the meeting, Land Bank board members discussed a new policy for preparing properties for market. Gina Paradis, county Land Bank administrative director, said the primary change to the process would be the addition of a code enforcement officer walking through each property prior to marketing the house for sale. The code officer would list the minimum renovations needed to bring the property to code. By doing this, a prospective buyer would know what would need to be renovated if they purchased the house. This new step is meant to help the potential buyers in budgeting for renovations and property purchases.

In other business, the Land Bank board passed a resolution to revise its land acquisitions and dispositions policy. During the meeting, the board discussed that the original policy was created in November 2012, when the Land Bank was in its infancy. During the last few years, the board has created guidelines and strategies for property acquisitions and dispositions. The Land Bank's staff follows the Jamestown Neighborhood Revitalization Plan as a guide. All property acquisitions and dispositions are researched and assessed based on the maximum positive impact to their communities. The board passed a new policy because the original one had restrictive language that was deemed unnecessary. The board unanimously passed the new policy.

Paradis told the board there is new interest in a property renovation in Dunkirk. Earlier this year, the property was pulled from the county foreclosure auction for demolition. However, with new interest in renovating the property, Paradis said it shouldn't be demolished. A Dunkirk building inspector said the house is structurally sound and capable of being renovated, she said. Land Bank board members said selling the property to someone interested in renovating the property would be better than if it had gone to auction. They said an auction sale wouldn't necessarily guarantee reinvestment in the property.

The Land Bank board accepted two property donations for demolition. One is located on Institute Street in Jamestown and the second is on South Beaver Street in Dunkirk.