SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Capital Region Land Bank met today and approved three projects in Schenectady County that will strengthen neighborhoods in Niskayuna, Delanson and Rotterdam.

In Niskayuna, the board approved the sale of 1019 Van Antwerp Road to Faneza Ramroop for $10,000.  The abandoned house on Van Antwerp was the subject of many complaints by neighbors.  The County foreclosed on the property and the Land Bank secured the building and cleaned up the exterior last year.  Mr. Ramroop plans to renovate the home and invest $200,000 to restore it.  A family member who works as a nurse will live there after renovations are complete.

“We have moved this property through the foreclosure process, cleaned it up and are now getting it fixed by a local resident and put back on the tax rolls,” said Richard Ruzzo, Chair of the Land Bank and a member of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This is a great example of the Land Bank’s hard work and commitment to revitalizing our neighborhoods throughout the county.”

The Land Bank Board also approved accepting title to 140 Elm Street in Delanson and 210 Chism Street in Rotterdam from Schenectady County.  Both properties are in poor condition and are badly overgrown.  There were bids submitted for each property at the County’s recent real property auction but the buyers backed out after seeing the condition of the houses. The Land Bank will evaluate the condition of each property for possible renovation but will most likely demolish them.

Tony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature said. “We thank the Land Bank for removing these blighted, vacant properties in Delanson and Rotterdam that have been eyesores in our community for too long,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “Schenectady County is proud to support the Land Bank’s mission to strengthen neighborhoods by mitigating blight. Working together we can make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The Land Bank has won grants worth $10 million to remove blight.  Through joint efforts with partner municipalities, the Land Bank has demolished over 200 long-vacant or abandoned structures and renovated or built an additional 33 structures with over 250 units of new affordable housing created or planned, mainly on sites that were previously vacant and/or tax foreclosed.

The Capital Region Land Bank is administered by Metroplex as part of the Schenectady County’s unified economic development team.