July 7, 2008

DISTRESSED PROPERTIES TASK FORCE ADVOCATES FOR LAND BANK LEGISLATION

Erie County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds, Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans), Co-Chair of the Distressed Properties Task Force created under the auspices of the Erie County Legislature, has sent an urgent letter to Governor David Paterson, encouraging him to sign into law Assembly Bill 8059-C/Senate Bill 5366-C.

This legislation was approved in the respective State Legislative houses on June 17 and June 18, 2008. The Task Force voted overwhelmingly in support of this legislation at its June 25, 2008, meeting.

The Distressed Properties Task Force is co-chaired by Angola Mayor Hub Frawley, and is composed of individuals, organizations and local governments that are working collaboratively to combat the blight of abandoned properties throughout the urban, suburban and rural communities of Erie County.

"No municipality has been spared the negative impact on its housing and commercial stock caused by this dual problem of disinvestment and decay," Legislator Reynolds said. "At the local government and community grassroots level, we are committed to putting a halt to this troubling trend."

Bill A.8059-C/S.5366-C seeks to address the problems of vacant and abandoned property in a coordinated manner, ultimately redeveloping such property to a state where it can be returned to the tax rolls and can promote economic growth. With the long-term interest of the community in mind, land banks operate efficiently to acquire, hold, manage and develop tax-foreclosed properties. Municipalities would have the opportunity to "opt in" to this community revitalization program. It is not a mandate.

"Our mission as a Task Force is to restore our region's economic vitality by managing the deserted properties in our residential neighborhoods and commercial districts," Legislator Reynolds said in his letter to Governor Paterson. "This 'land banking' strategy is another tool that our communities need to address the blight of vacant and abandoned properties. We strongly recommend that you give local governments one more tool in the economic development tool chest."

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