Schenectady, N.Y. — Mayor Gary McCarthy today announced another step forward in the City’s Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady (HOMES) Program as the sale of 14 Myers Alley will be considered by the City Council this evening. This will be the first house to be renovated under the Contractor Rehab Program, which is part of the Mayor’s HOMES initiative.

Mayor McCarthy said, “We are very pleased to see this property go from abandoned site to renovated and owner occupied two family home. This is a good example of our efforts to reclaim and upgrade properties in Schenectady’s neighborhoods.

Located at 14 Myers Alley, the property was abandoned and was owned by the City of Schenectady as a result of a tax foreclosure. The City has agreed to sell the property to Regeneration Construction for $13,000.  The new owner will retrofit the three story building creating a renovated two family home. The new owner will live at the property and lease the second unit.  The new owners will invest over $75,000 in the property.  Work will be completed in about six months. The City of Schenectady will oversee construction through the Contractor Rehab Program, which is run by the Building Inspector’s Office.

The new owners are Gary and Lynn Pappas. Gary is a native of Rotterdam New York. Lynn is a Colorado native. The Pappas will return to Schenectady after living out west for the past 18 years.

Gary Pappas said, “Our desire is to help Schenectady continue its turn around. The Contractor Rehab Program is a tremendous step forward in achieving that goal. We thank Mayor McCarthy, Eric Shilling and the City Council for developing this program

Myers Alley is located between North Jay Street and Barrett Street in Schenectady’s Little Italy and lower Union Street neighborhood.