MAYVILLE The county's newly organized land bank corporation is set to take on its first trio of projects.
Three tax-foreclosed properties, two in Dunkirk and one in Fredonia, were discussed Monday during an Administrative Services Committee meeting, and signifies the first official action by the revitalization group to rid the county of unwanted and unsightly eyesores.
"I'm encouraged that the land bank is moving forward and taking on some distressed properties," said Jim Caflisch, county tax director and land bank board member. "They are in good neighborhoods and just need to be rehabilitated."
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Three properties in Chautauqua County, two in Dunkirk and one in Fredonia, are slated to be transferred to the county land bank corporation.Including 768 Eagle St. in Dunkirk.
The properties sought by the land bank include: 84 Risley St., Fredonia; 768 Eagle St., Dunkirk; and 412 Dove St., Dunkirk.
A fourth property, 648 E. Sixth St., Jamestown, was transferred in June to the Citizen's Opportunity for Development and Equality for possible demolition. CODE, a not-for-profit revitalization group based in Jamestown, required site control to facilitate grant funding for the razing.
A fifth tax-foreclosed property originally tapped by the land bank, located at 33 Price St., Jamestown, has been reclaimed by its owner.
According to Caflisch, if approved by the legislature the three properties in the north county would be purchased for $1 each. After the initial round of acquisition is complete, the group will turn back to the auction block for additional properties.
"I'm encouraged we can bring these properties back up to the standards of these neighborhoods," he said. "This is exactly what the land bank was designed to do."
A resolution for the transfers, which passed Monday and will be discussed during Thursday's Audit and Control committee, will head to the legislature floor next week.
"This is another exciting step in the process in dealing in a much more effective way with foreclosed properties," County Executive Greg Edwards said in June. "They have identified properties that have fit the model. It's a self-funding business model."
