In December of 2014, the home at 12783 Jackson Street burned. Firefighters called it a “total loss,” and while it was a miracle that no one was injured, the blackened debris hurt the neighborhood for two more years.

When residents had had enough, they called on the Hanover Town Board to get something done.

And they did — by calling in their own “fix-it guy,” Borrello. He even got the bank that owned the property to pay for the work.

“I reached out to Ocwen, the mortgage holder on the Jackson Street property,” Borrello told the OBSERVER. “After several communications with them, they recognized the danger that burned structure posed. I commend them for stepping up and paying for the demolition. It proves they a responsible corporate citizen and I hope their action serves as an example to others who own blighted properties.”

OBSERVER Photos by Rebecca Cuthbert: This burned-out home sat empty and abandoned on Jackson Street in the hamlet of Irving, until Chautauqua County Legislator George Borrello and the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation stepped in to get it demolished. At right is the property now.

Borrello liaises frequently with the CCLBC, which is overseen by Executive Director Gina Paradis.

“(Borrello) was instrumental in getting this done,” Paradis said of the Irving project. “He worked with the bank and he got them to take responsibility.

“The land bank managed the project, facilitating the contract between Ocwen and Pierce Services, who took care of the demolition work. Northeast Environmental Inc. did the air quality monitoring.”

The OBSERVER reached out to Chuck Pierce of Pierce Services, who said the project, completed in December, didn’t run into any issues.

“(The demolition) went smoothly,” he said. “It took about four days to get it cleaned up, but now (the property) is seeded and strawed.”

Pierce commented that the bank was great to work with, and that his company often works with the Land Bank on demolitions in the area.

Another person who couldn’t be happier that the place finally got knocked down is Gerry Rice Sr., Irving’s fire chief and a Jackson Street resident.

“It looks a whole lot better than it did!” he said. “It’s a total improvement over what it was. I used to call and complain — we’ve got (our) grandchildren over here, and there were … raccoons and (feral) cats that I used to watch go in and out of the (burned home). It wasn’t safe.”

Rice said he hasn’t seen the wild animals since their “home” got removed. He hopes that someone buys the lot and builds a new home there.

“Hopefully we’ll see a ‘For Sale’ sign soon,” he said. “People have been asking about it.”

Borrello was glad he could help, but sees the Jackson Street project as just one item checked off of a very long list. In short, there’s work to do.

“Blighted properties, like the one on Jackson Street, are like a cancer in our neighborhoods. It can spread by reducing property values and the (neighbors’) quality of life. There are many properties like this to address in our county. The land bank is making great progress and I am happy to be working with them,” he said.

The next project is already lined up in the crosshairs.

“We are focusing now on the crumbling house (at 33) Main Street in Forestville. The owner is cooperating and we are working with town and county officials, as well as the land bank, and I am hopeful this property will also be torn down in the near future,” said Borrello.

Paradis said the Land Bank has many projects in mind.

“We’re preparing for our next round of demos,” she stated. “Our rehabs are still ongoing, and we are marketing those, along with some side lot sales. We are also focusing on data analytics to help us target our efforts and be more strategic about where we’re putting our investments. We track our performance to make sure we’re maximizing our impacts.”

Borrello said it comes down to residents taking pride in their homes and neighborhoods — they shouldn’t have to deal with falling-down buildings next door or across the street.

“Responsible property owners in our county — who take pride in their homes and community and pay their property taxes — should not have to suffer with blighted properties that are dangerous and devalue what is likely the largest asset they own: their homes.”

And, one at a time, those blighted properties are coming down.

“Every municipality and neighborhood in our county has structures that are blighted,” Borrello noted. “People go by them and ask themselves, ‘Can’t something be done about this?’ Well, I am proud to say that the county and the land bank are doing something about it.”

Comments on this story can be sent to rcuthbert@observertoday.com