Land Bank Will Continue To Remove, Tear Down Blight By: Dennis Phillips, Post-Journal

From the Jamestown Post Journal

Gina Paradis, Chautauqua County Land Bank administrative director, said in 2015 the land bank will be able to remove mixed-use properties, which are ones with a commercial location on the first floor and residential area on the others, for the first time. In October, Eric Schneiderman, state attorney general, announced his office awarded the Chautauqua County Land Bank $1.3 million. Last year, the land bank received $1.5 million from the state attorney general.

During the first round of funding, the money received could only be used on residential properties. Paradis said the land bank received $500,000 during the second round of funding to be used toward demolishing mixed-use properties.

''We are looking to municipalities to approach us about targets for that demolition,'' she said. ''We've identified a few so far. We're looking for more input from municipalities on that. We hope to get started in the first quarter of the year.''

In 2014, 27 residential properties that were abandoned in Jamestown were targeted for demolition. Paradis said first asbestos assessments on all properties were done, and then the ones with contamination were abated. She said the demolitions started in September, with the initial one being done on First Street.

Paradis said in 2015 the residential demolition program will continue. She said a total of 40 properties in Jamestown, 20 in Dunkirk and 20 others throughout the county will be torn down.

In 2015, land bank officials will also continue with the negotiated sales program. Paradis said they are marketing properties they have acquired for the program.

''Most of the properties have been cleaned out, assessed and appraised,'' she said. ''Now we will be marketing them through January for interested purchasers to buy and renovate them. We're going through the process of reviewing proposals and negotiating with developers. What we are trying to do is pick up neighborhood liabilities and negotiate with responsible renovators who will take a project and create an asset out of a liability.''

Paradis said people interested in the properties can view them by visiting www.chautauqualandbank.org. Also at the website, viewers can read about the land bank's polices and procedures for purchasing the properties. Interested parties can also contact the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Realtors. For more information, visit www.ccbrmls.com.

In 2014, Paradis said land bank officials renovated several properties using local developers.

''It was a case of bad apples in nice neighborhoods. The properties were eyesores for the neighbors, and (the renovators) turned them into beautiful assets,'' she said.

One example of the land bank working with a developer to renovate a blighted house was on Prendergast Avenue in Jamestown. The Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation, also known as CHRIC, took on the responsibility to repair the house's roof, floors, porch, electric and plumbing.

''It was a really great model for the negotiated sales program,'' Paradis said. ''They sold it to a first-time homebuyer, who went through their first-time homebuyer education program.''

Paradis said other houses rehabilitated included properties on Risley Street in Fredonia, Eagle Street in Dunkirk and Newland Avenue in Jamestown.

The land bank will continue acquiring properties through the county's foreclosure sale for the negotiated sales program. They also have received properties from foreclosures done by banks.

''We are working on where banks have foreclosed on a property and then they donate it to the land bank,'' Paradis said. ''We are waiting for a few donations to close. Then they will be put into the negotiated sales program as well.''