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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF SCHENECTADY NEW YORK |
City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Rm 111 Schenectady, N.Y. 12305-1938 Office: (518) 382-5000 Cell: (518) 424-0483 Fax: (518) 382-5272
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Gary R. McCarthy Mayor
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For Release: Immediate
Date: April 23, 2015
Press Release
Mayor McCarthy Unveils New Website to
Showcase All City and Land Bank-owned Properties in
Partnership with the Capital Region Land Bank
SCHENECTADY –Mayor Gary R. McCarthy and Capital Region Land Bank Chairman Richard Ruzzo today unveiled the new Capital Region Land Bank’s website (http://capitalregionlandbank.com/) which will promote the sale of houses owned by the City and the Land Bank through the H.O.M.E.S. program. Dozens of available properties will now be showcased in an easy to use online format for prospective buyers hosted by the Capital Region Land Bank.
“Prospective buyers use a range of sources to locate their future home and we need to make finding the opportunities in Schenectady as easy and user-friendly as possible. Working with the Capital Region Land Bank to list all of our City-owned properties online will allow prospective homeowners an easy place to find opportunities,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “We have been working through the H.O.M.E.S. program to improve quality of life in our City through home ownership and this tool will strengthen our efforts.”
“We are excited to unveil this new tool to promote home ownership and investment,” said County Legislator Richard Ruzzo, Capital Region Land Bank Chairman. “This partnership compliments our efforts to assist with neighborhood revitalization in our partner communities, including Schenectady, through removing blighted structures that impede investment and promoting renovation and home ownership.”
City and Land Bank officials were joined by Marie Krauser, a sales agent for Veronica W. Lynch in front of 42 Western Parkway, a City-owned listing that is being professionally marketed and is showcased on the new website. This property will also be part of the Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady (H.O.M.E.S.) Open House Weekend taking place this Sunday throughout the City from 12:00-3:00 p.m.
“Working with the Schenectady H.O.M.E.S. program to promote homeownership has been a great partnership,” said Marie Krauser of Veronica W. Lynch LLC. “This new website will be an additional way for prospective buyers to find our City listings and learn about the values that exist in Schenectady.”
The award winning H.O.M.E.S. program started out with 9 partners (Key Bank, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, the Schenectady City School District, the Gazette, NBT Bank, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Legere Restorations, SRG Architects and Open Stage Media) and continues to bring in additional partners (NBT Bank, Greater Capital District Association of Realtors, CDTA, Prospect Lending, Coldwell Banker, SONYMA, Trustco, The Home Depot, Creating Why Media, Capital District Community Loan Fund, NYSHCR, Schenectady County Habitat for Humanity, Community Land Trust of Schenectady, Better Neighborhoods Inc, Homestead Funding, M&T Bank, Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc).
The Capital Region Land Bank currently has issued a bid for 17 blighted properties in Schenectady and Montgomery Counties with nine buildings slated for demo, while eight others will be prepped for resale and renovation. The Land Bank continues to assist with neighborhood revitalization efforts in Schenectady with the goal of improving neighborhoods by removing blighted properties that are beyond repair while renovating and repairing others.
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