For Immediate Release:
Contact:    Joe McQueen
(518) 388-4772
February 4, 2015

 

Schenectady County Legislature and Capital Region Land Bank

Fight Blight in Rotterdam

 

(Schenectady County, NY)  The Schenectady County Legislature last night unanimously moved out of committee a resolution that will transfer three blighted properties located in the Town of Rotterdam to Schenectady’s Land Bank so that they can be demolished or rehabilitated.

“In a short period of time the Land Bank has made progress in improving neighborhoods in the City of Schenectady,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.  “Now, we are expanding this effort into Rotterdam by transferring ownership of three buildings to the Land Bank so that these blighted structures can be demolished helping the surrounding area and setting the stage to return these properties to the tax rolls.”

The properties to be transferred to the Land Bank are 3011 Caroline Avenue, 1299 Main Street, and 8 Isabella Street, all in the Town of Rotterdam.   The three properties were taken by the County in tax foreclosure.  Funding for the demolition will be paid for by a Grant from the New York Attorney General.

Schenectady’s Land Bank received a $3 million grant from Attorney General Eric Schneiderman late last year, the largest grant awarded in New York State in the most recent round of Land Bank funding. The City of Schenectady is working with Schenectady County and with the City of Amsterdam on the Land Bank project.

“This is a great example of what the Land Bank was created to do, produce real change in our neighborhoods and improve abandoned properties and return them to the tax rolls,” said Jeff McDonald, Schenectady County Legislator and Board Member of the Land Bank.

The Land Bank Board of Directors has already authorized the acceptance of these properties at their recent meeting.

The Schenectady County Legislature will give final approval during their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2015.

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