JUNE 26, 2017
Newburgh Community Land Bank is seeking bids from qualified, licensed, insured environmental contractors with extensive experience to provide high value environmental services for the testing and abatement of land bank properties.
Newburgh, N.Y. - The New York Land Bank Association (NYLBA) has released New York State Land Banks: A New National Standard, summarizing the first five years of land bank activity since the state’s passage of the 2011 Land Bank Act. The report serves as a resource for local officials, state leaders, public and private funders, and other parties to learn the strategies and achievements of land banks in combating vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties.
New York State Land Banks: A New National Standard, published in partnership with the Center for Community Progress, highlights the impact of New York land banks’ critical stewardship of 1,989 acquired vacant and abandoned properties through stabilization/renovation, demolition where necessary, and responsible disposition with clear development goals and beneficial uses. As of the end of 2016, NYLBA’s members have leveraged approximately $32 million in initial funding from the New York Attorney General’s Office to attract over $77 million in private development investment and return over $28 million in assessed value to the tax rolls. As the professional association for New York land banks, NYLBA offers legal and policy guidance, public advocacy, and a forum for sharing best practices and new ideas. A major focus of NYLBA going forward will be identifying and pursuing recurring, reliable sources of funding for the state’s land banks.
The Newburgh Community Land Bank (NCLB) was established in 2012 to address the City of Newburgh’s inventory of tax-foreclosed, vacant properties. To date, NCLB has sold 56 of its initial 82 properties, returning over $3 million in assessed value to the local tax rolls and generating $116,000 in new local taxes annually. Nine additional properties have been abated and/or stabilized, and two have been fully renovated for purchase by Newburgh residents looking to become first-time homebuyers. An example of NCLB’s recent work is the closing of a $15 million scattered-site development project with developer RUPCO, which will produce 45 affordable housing units within 17 properties spanning four city blocks. In addition to these core activities, NCLB serves as a leading partner in two major place-based initiatives, the Main Street Revitalization project reimagining the intersection of Broadway and Liberty as a “city center”, and the creation of an urban farm at Downing Park.
NCLB was recently awarded an additional $2 million in funding from the New York State Attorney General’s Land Bank Community Revitalization Initiative, the largest individual grant awarded, which will be used to create an additional 50 affordable rental units, help ten families achieve home ownership, and begin a deconstruction and salvage program to repurpose building materials and architectural elements.
“In just a few years, we have deployed strategies that will make short and long term improvements to the quality of life for all Newburghers and we look forward to continually evolving to bring more resources and opportunities for equitable revitalization to our community,” said Madeline Fletcher, Executive Director of Newburgh Community Land Bank.
New York State Land Banks: A New National Standard is being distributed statewide by NYLBA members and was developed with support from the Center for Community Progress and the Newburgh Community Land Bank. It is available online at www.nylandbanks.org.
“Communities across New York are finding land banks to be flexible tools that can be adapted to their local challenges and enable them to take control of abandoned properties, giving them more options for short-term intervention and the ability to plan for longer-term neighborhood revitalization,” said Katelyn Wright, president of the NYLBA. “There are now 20 land banks across New York, created by local governments ready to proactively address the problems of abandoned property. The New York Land Bank Association has evolved over the past five years into a powerful advocate for land banks and for communities facing blight and abandonment. We’re excited to share this report outlining our collective achievements over the past five years and the challenges that lie ahead.”
“The accomplishments of the New York land banking movement in its first five years are quite remarkable and show what’s possible when there are dedicated public sector leaders working with community partners on a shared commitment to transform vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods,” said Kim Graziani, VP and Director of National Technical Assistance of the Center for Community Progress. “New York has set the bar high in the national field of practice. We congratulate all those who have made this work happen and look forward to supporting continued success across the state.”
Land banking began in New York following the passage of the New York Land Bank Act in 2011, which authorized the creation of land banks as a tool to address the impacts of property vacancy, abandonment and foreclosure across the state. In New York, land banks are independent nonprofit corporations. While the Land Bank Act had previously capped the number of authorized land banks at 20, the limit was increased to 25 as part of the most recent state budget negotiation. The land banks currently in operation are:
• Albany County Land Bank Corporation
• Allegany County Land Bank Corporation
• Broome County Land Bank Corporation
• Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation
• Capital Region Land Reutilization Corporation
• Cattaraugus County Land Bank Corporation
• Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation
• Chemung County Land Bank Corporation
• Finger Lakes Regional Land Bank Corporation
• Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank Corporation
• Greater Syracuse Property Development Corporation
• Nassau County Land Bank Corporation
• Newburgh Community Land Bank
• Oswego County Land Bank Corporation
• Rochester Land Bank Corporation
• Steuben County Land Bank Corporation
• Suffolk County Land Bank Corporation
• Sullivan County Land Bank Corporation
• Tioga County Property Development Corporation
• Troy Community Land Bank
According to research by the Center for Community Progress, there are approximately 170 land banks and land banking programs across the country as of 2016. New York now has the third highest number of modern day land banks, behind only Ohio and Michigan.
The Newburgh Community Land Bank was one of the first land banks formed in New York State. It returns vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use in ways that support the community’s long-range vision for equitable, sustainable development. NCLB is governed by an eleven-member board of directors consisting of city officers and community and business stakeholders. More information is available at www.newburghcommunitylandbank.org.
NYLBA offers legal and policy guidance to its member land banks, develops annual legislative priorities, boasts a successful track record of legislative advocacy, and hosts an annual summit dedicated to sharing best practices and exploring more effective cross-sector solutions to the challenges posed by problem properties. NYLBA currently has 14 dues-paying members and is operated by a volunteer board of directors. More information is available at www.nylandbanks.org.
The mission of the Center for Community Progress is to foster strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods. Founded in 2010, Community Progress is the leading national, nonprofit resource for urban, suburban, and rural communities seeking to address the full cycle of property revitalization. The organization fulfills its mission by nurturing strong leadership and supporting systemic reforms. Community Progress works to ensure that public, private, and community leaders have the knowledge and capacity to create and sustain change. It also works to ensure that all communities have the policies, tools, and resources they need to support the effective, equitable reuse of vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties. More information is available at www.communityprogress.net.
Please join us this Friday, April 7, 2017, for the groundbreaking celebration for our partnership with RUPCO that will bring 45 affordable apartments in historic buildings to downtown Newburgh!
We have partnered with RUPCO along with Safe Harbors of the Hudson, New York State Homes & Community Renewal, the City of Newburgh and key funders to resurrect 15 properties in our four block North of Broadway Neighborhood on Lander, Johnston, S. Miller, Dubois, & First Streets. We look forward to the transformation of our neighborhood over the next few months!
Newburgh Community Land Bank will create fifty affordable rental units, help ten families realize their dream of home ownership, and – so that nothing goes to waste – recycle materials from demolished properties for use in future renovations.
#LOVETHATLOT
On February 14th, Newburgh Community Land Bank is hosting a “LoveThatLot” Public Display of Affection as part of a National Campaign by Center for Community Progress to bring some love to our revitalized lots.
We are celebrating two of our newest properties: 53 & 55 Farrington in a closing event for the OPEN HOUSES for the HOUSE TO HOME program. If you haven’t yet had a chance to peak inside these two sweet little homes, now is the time!
You can spot us that the morning walking & spreading the love around the city by“heart-bombing” properties which we have sold that are on their way to revitalization! We’ll end up at 53 & 55 Farrington for our #LoveThatLot celebration at 12:00 noon with FREE coffee & donuts & hugs to share. Hope we’ll see you there— and keep an eye out for your NCLB house on our feed!
Happy New Year!
OPEN HOUSE! Newburgh Community Land Bank recently renovated 53 & 55 Farrington from top to bottom and are looking for Newburghers, who want to be first time homeowners!
If you are interested, have lived in Newburgh for at least five years, are a first time home buyer, and have a family household income under 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)*. Please come to one of our open houses this January to see the properties and learn more:
THURSDAY, January 5th from 2-5 PM.
SUNDAY, January 8th 9 AM-12 PM
WEDNESDAY, January 18th 4-7 PM
SATURDAY, January 28st 9 AM – 12 PM
TUESDAY, January 31st 2-5 PM
We look forward to seeing you there!
Questions can be emailed to: info@newburghcommunitylandbank.org
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Sale prices for these sweet two bedroom historic homes are $75,000 each (around $850-950 per month incl. property taxes). These two Farrington Street properties are the only properties we have available for first time homebuyers in move-in condition at this time.
The requirements for these properties are that you will be an owner occupant, make under 80% Area Median Income (about $65,000 for a family of 4), be a Newburgh resident for at least 5 years, and are able to secure financing. We are partnering with PathStone to provide no-cost home buyer education and counseling along with access to any grant funds for downpayment and closing cost assistance that may be available through their programs. PathStone will also assist in evaluating and qualifying each applicant.
Happy Holidays!
The Newburgh Community Land Bank property application is closed for 2016.
We are working on new programs and projects for 2017.
Please check back early next year for our new website and new inventory!
BROADWAY RIBBON CUTTING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016 @11AM
BROADWAY & LIBERTY STREETS
NEWBURGH NY 12550
Join us to celebrate the completion of the Central Hudson Main Street Revitalization Project with a Ribbon Cutting at Broadway & Liberty, this upcoming Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 11am. A collaborative effort between Central Hudson, the City of Newburgh, Safe Harbors on the Hudson and Newburgh Community Land Bank, the Project's ambitious scope encompassed (1) Complete Streets Planning and Demonstration Project by the City of Newburgh including new painted crosswalks and curb extensions, planters, and a prototype Bus Stop designed by Atlas Industries, (2) seed funding for the Safe Harbor's Green, a public park designed by One Nature at the corner of Liberty and Broadway, and (3) funding for the redevelopment of 96 Broadway, a historic corner building at the intersection of Broadway and Liberty, by the Newburgh Community Land Bank in partnership with Liberty Street Partners as a mixed-use, with a commercial store-front on the ground floor to house a restaurant, and multi-family residential above. Come watch the ribbon cutting and enjoy some complementary cider & donuts. See you there!
October 4, 2013
Newburgh - The Renovation of 15 Chambers Street comprises the first phase of the renovation of 13-15 Chambers Street. Phase one includes the renovation of the one-story former funeral parlor into professional office space which will house the Newburgh Community Land Bank. Phase two includes the renovation of the adjacent 4-story wood and masonry apartment building into renovated apartments. It is planned that the first phase will begin late 2013 and that the Second Phase will begin in the Spring of 2014. The Bid set documents pertain to the first phase of the project only.
Bids shall be delivered to the above address or sent via email to Madeline Fletcher, Executive Director no later than 12:00 noon on October 15, 2013.
Submit a bid: BID REQUEST INSTRUCTION FORM
August 1, 2012
Newburgh - The Newburgh Community Land Bank (NCLB) has recently incorporated, readying it to begin helping the residents of Newburgh. The NCLB is the only Land Bank in New York State authorized to a city exclusively. Under its designation, The City of Newburgh has the authority to buy abandoned homes for a negotiated low price. Upon acquiring the buildings, they will either be renovated or torn down, depending on the state of ruination, helping to alleviate the high property taxes currently burdening city homeowners. Under the leadership of Michael J. Vatter, Esq., NCLB Chair, and the Board of trustees, the NCLB hopes to acquire its first property in late August.
Image above: An abandoned home sits neglected on Liberty Street.
“The incorporating of the Newburgh Community Land Back was made possible by New York State Senator William J. Larkin Jr., Congressman Maurice Hinchey and New York State Assemblyman Frank Skartados,” said Mr. Vatter. “These individuals along with many others were instrumental with the passing of the legislation. We can now begin to help the residents of the City of Newburgh and alleviate some of the property tax burdens they are currently facing.”
Contemporary urban land banks formed in response to a large number of tax-delinquent properties and widespread property abandonment in cities experiencing a loss of industrial jobs, such as St. Louis, Missouri and Cleveland, Ohio. The success of these early Land Banks helped pave the way for municipalities to seek similar solutions.
Abandoned properties depress the surrounding area homes, discourage property ownership and attract criminal activity. The NCLB will act as a tool to quickly turn these abandoned homes into usable parcels that reinvest in the long-term vision for city. This will provide an opportunity to promote economic development, improve tax revenue, remove public nuisances, expand housing and assist with crime prevention. The primary areas of focus will be a target area generally bounded to the North by South Street, to the West by Route 9W, to the South by Broadway, and to the East by the Waterfront.
