BNI’s ‘green homes’ program has been a deal for Sch’dy
I try to understand the myopic thinking behind the Jan. 19 editorial [“Give up on ‘green’ homes”] regarding the green/ universal design homes constructed by Better Neighborhoods Inc. (14 to date), and wish the writer would visit the homes and talk with the homeowners to obtain a true sense of what we have accomplished with federal and state monies. The editorial alludes to the fact we want to “drop the green home program.” This is not true. In point of fact, we have an additional four green homes we will be building: two on vacant lots on Duane Avenue, one at 17 Chestnut St., and one at 832 Grant Ave. All construction sites were owned by the city and were not generating any property tax revenue, which they will with the title transfer to BNI and the homeowners. I am happy to report that the assessed value of the new green homes has been reduced from $145,000 to $110,000, the same as the bank appraisals, which provides the affordability measure so necessary for the homeowners. One would ask, what is the value to the community of the new green homes? I would answer: 1) Universal design — the home has the flexibility in design that allows owners to “age in place” and not have to be placed in a nursing home if they become disabled; 2) City tax base — a vacant, nontaxed property is now generating income for the city; 3) Energy conservation — all homes are Energy Star rated and most homes have both solar hot water and solar electric. Average utility monthly charges are $160; 4) Neighborhood improvement — we have observed a ripple effect that results in neighbors improving their homes where we have developed the green homes; 5) Economic opportunity — there is a promotion of work for local tradespeople and increased retail sales activity of building products; 6) State and federal grant monies. Why should the residents of the city of Schenectady not be afforded the opportunity to have their lives and community improved through the utilization of public monies?BNI’s ‘green homes’ program has been a deal for Sch’ I sincerely hope the above will serve to clarify what I feel are the misconceptions surrounding the Green/Universal Design Affordable Housing Project.
EDWARD AUGUST Schenectady The writer is BNI’s executive director.
Number seven: the people living in those houses can't afford the taxes. Number 8: when that green technology starts to fail they won't be able to afford to fix it.
It would be interesting to see the exact stats showing the 'return' on the 'investment'.
How much does it actually cost to build these homes? How many of these homes and how many times were these homes vandalized and became a 'do-over'? How many homes had pipes freeze during construction and became a 'do-over'? How many times did these homes become a 'do-over' due to not following 'plans'?
I'm not saying that it isn't positive that these properties are now on the tax rolls......but what is the return on the investment? And has this improved the quality of life in these drug ridden neighborhoods?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Number 9) The home should be installed with bulletproof windows and graffiti proof siding. Number 10) Cameras installed with a link to the NY State Troopers.
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
TIP TO NEW VISITORS TO THIS FORUM - To improve your blogging pleasure it is recommended to ignore (Through editing your prefere) the posts of the following bloggers - DemocraticVoiceofReason, Scotsgod08 and Smoking Bananas. They continually go off topic, do not provide facts and make irrational remarks. If you do not believe me, this can be proven by their reputation scores or by a sampling of their posts.
Myopic thinking def-spending $170,000 on a property that is not worth $100,000 because of the idiotic City property taxes. Thank God the assessment was reduced like every property in the City because of ongoing renaissance. BNI is a good deal of the overpaid Executive Director. Not the oppressed City taxpayers and not the sheeple that buy these "green" homes.
BNI’s ‘green homes’ program has been a deal for Sch’dy
6) State and federal grant monies.
Why should the residents of the city of Schenectady not be afforded the opportunity to have their lives and community improved through the utilization of public monies?
EDWARD AUGUST Schenectady
The writer is BNI’s executive director.
Another socialist.
He needs to correct one of the bullets to read:
6) Monies via forced handouts from the taxpayers.
WHY should the LONG TIME homeowners of the city of Schenectady not be afforded the opportunity to have their lives and community improved through the elimination of the endless increased in their taxes. Why should the LONG TIME homeowners of the city not be afforded the opportunity to spend their own money on their own homes instead of having to fork it over to those who don't work hard enough to be able to buy a house on the open market at the real cost of the house? Why should the LONG TIME homeowners of the city not be afforded the opportunity to spend their own hard earned money the way they want instead of being robbed and forced to fork it over in the form of 100% tax exemptions for millionaires?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Myopic thinking def-spending $170,000 on a property that is not worth $100,000 because of the idiotic City property taxes. Thank God the assessment was reduced like every property in the City because of ongoing renaissance. BNI is a good deal of the overpaid Executive Director. Not the oppressed City taxpayers and not the sheeple that buy these "green" homes.
Oh it is WELL over the $170K per property when all is said and done!!! So how long will it take to recoup that money invested???
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
In the end, would you want to be the one living amonst a bunch of haters and others who are jealous of the home or were denied in the program? The homes also make the rest of the homes look that much worse. They stick out more. Return on investment is horrible. Waste of money. They act like grant money is free.....
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
TIP TO NEW VISITORS TO THIS FORUM - To improve your blogging pleasure it is recommended to ignore (Through editing your prefere) the posts of the following bloggers - DemocraticVoiceofReason, Scotsgod08 and Smoking Bananas. They continually go off topic, do not provide facts and make irrational remarks. If you do not believe me, this can be proven by their reputation scores or by a sampling of their posts.
Schenectady puts its green into home rehab Will stop building energy-efficient homes and use grants on renovations By Lauren Stanforth Published 10:05 p.m., Monday, March 26, 2012
SCHENECTADY — The troubled green home program in the city will be no more because Schenectady will be using federal grant money to rehab existing homes instead.
For the last five years, the program put $180,000 into a new home filled with energy efficiencies and sold them for $80,000 each to low- to moderate-income buyers. The problem: the city's assessor at the time said because of the houses' amenities, he had to assess the dwellings for higher than the home's selling price — resulting in higher property taxes than the owners expected.
The city will use funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for renovating blighted homes, albeit without solar panels, bamboo flooring or the other pricey gadgets that came in the green homes and boosted their taxable value.
City Development Director Richard Purga maintains that Schenectady isn't abandoning the green home program because of the assessment troubles connected with it.
"It's not wrong to build green homes," Purga said. "It's just a different focus — the idea being you can get more units out of a rehab."
The city decided two years ago to phase out the project, said Ellie Pepper, assistant director of Better Neighborhoods Inc., which oversees construction of the green homes. BNI and the city are building the last four green homes this year — in addition to rehabilitating seven abandoned or foreclosed structures.
"The houses are wonderful, and the energy savings are incredible," Pepper said about the green homes. "But there are so many vacant, abandoned properties right now.".................>>>>.................>>>>.................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....57.php#ixzz1qJO8NUS5
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Myopic thinking def-spending $170,000 on a property that is not worth $100,000 because of the idiotic City property taxes. Thank God the assessment was reduced like every property in the City because of ongoing renaissance. BNI is a good deal of the overpaid Executive Director. Not the oppressed City taxpayers and not the sheeple that buy these "green" homes. 
