Excerpt:
Quoted Text
Land Bank targets blight
17 properties facing demolition, renovation
BY BETHANY BUMP Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Bethany Bump at 395-3107, bbump@dailygazette.net or @BethanyBump on Twitter.
The Capital Region Land Bank is soliciting quotes for the demolition or renovation of 17 blighted properties in Schenectady and Montgomery counties beginning as soon as next month.
The local land bank was created in 2012 to buy and then demolish or renovate distressed properties in the city of Amsterdam and within Schenectady County. Last year, it received $3 million from the state Attorney General’s Office — one of the largest awards doled out to land banks across the state — after being passed over for a sizeable grant the year before.
The latest round of properties slated for the land bank will continue the group’s focus on Schenectady’s Eastern Avenue neighborhood and expand efforts out to the North side and Little Italy neighborhoods, as well as the Rotterdam Junction area of Rotterdam and the city of Amsterdam.
“The land bank is moving forward in partnership with both cities and Schenectady County to make a difference in our neighborhoods,” said Richard Ruzzo, who is chairman of the land bank and also a Schenectady County legislator. “By attacking blight and abandoned properties through focused demolitions and rehabilitation projects, we are encouraging home ownership and strengthening neighborhood revitalization efforts throughout our community.”
In the Eastern Avenue neighborhood, four properties will be demolished: 843 Eastern Ave., 101 De-Graff St., and 99 and 105 Prospect St. Five will be renovated and resold: 27 1 /2 Columbia St., 706 Vale St., and 762, 795 and 840 Eastern Ave.
...
Taxpayer money of course.
But look at the addresses.
HOW INCOMPENTENT is the mayor of Schenectady and his staff. Check this one out. Look at it in chronological sequence
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David Hughes
Date: September 29, 2001
Publication: Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY)
Edition:Schenectady Albany; Final
Column:
Length: 154 Words
Page: B-07
SCHENECTADY - David John Hughes, 52, of Eastern Avenue, died Wednesday at Ellis Hospital after a long illness.
Born in Queens, Mr. Hughes lived there until moving to Schenectady 13 years ago. He was educated in New York City schools.
Mr. Hughes was a transportation aide at Ellis Hospital for eight years, retiring six months ago due to disability.
He was a member of St. Mary's Church.
Survivors include his wife, Debra Ann Alava Hughes, whom he married April 13, 1990; a
,,.
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Investigators probe Sch'dy blaze
Date: July 21, 2002
Publication: Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY)
Edition:Schenectady Albany; Final
Column:
Length: 45 Words
Page: B-03
SCHENECTADY -Investigators were trying late Saturday to determine the cause of a fire at an Eastern Avenue home.
The blaze at 854 Eastern Ave., described as "fully involved," was reported at about 7:45 p.m., a Schenectady Fire Department dispatcher said.
No injuries were reported.
Chief: Eastern Ave. blaze was set
...
Quoted Text
Sch'dy girl faces charge of arson
Fire chief says teenager's mother lived in house damaged by July fire
Author: MARILYN HIPP Gazette Reporter
Date: August 11, 2002
Publication: Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY)
Edition:Schenectady Albany; Final
Column:
Length: 260 Words
Page: B-03
SCHENECTADY - A 16-year-old local girl has been arrested in connection with a July Eastern Avenue fire that investigators said was deliberately set.
Debbie Princess Alava, a Queens native, is expected to appear in city court Monday to answer the charge of second-degree arson, a felony. She is currently being held at Schenectady County jail without bail.
Details of how investigators were led to Alava or a motive were unavailable Saturday.
According to Schenectady Fire Chief...
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Debra A. Hughes
Date: January 4, 2004
Publication: Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY)
Edition:Schenectady Albany; Final
Column:
Length: 69 Words
Page: B-06
Schenectady -- Debra A. Hughes, 48, of Eastern Parkway, died suddenly Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at St. Clare's Hospital.
Funeral services will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. at Light's Funeral Home, 1428 State Street, Schenectady. Relatives and friends are invited to attend and may call at the funeral home from 12 noon to 1 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Park View Cemetery.
And yet the INCOMPETENCE under BS mayor and McTHIEF mayor and their staff, even the citywide reassessment in 2009 did NOT result in a competently done reassessment. The house had been burned out in 2002, one owner died before the fire, the other died in 2003,NEVER REPAIRED, left vacant, and in 2010, the city employees assessed this house as if it was in perfect condition. It was changed in 2012.
Despite it being a common last name, and obit's lack specific detail on addresses, the Hughes' indeed are the owners of 854
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Instrument Type: DEED
Recorded Date: NOVEMBER 15, 1994
12:00:00 AM
Instrument Number: 199435414
Municipality: SCHENECTADY
Recording Status: VERIFIED
Book: 1439
Page: 335
Total Pages: 1
Consideration: $0
Tax Basis: $0
Parcel Numbers: 39.83 | 2 | 64
Notes: 00585-1263 SCH SEC 39.83 BLK 2 L64
DIRECT PARTIES (GRANTOR) INDIRECT PARTIES (GRANTEE)
PODRAZIK BARBARA M HUGHES DAVID
PODRAZIK MARK A HUGHES DEBRA
Now, what have the incompetent city of Schenectady been doing for 12 years?????????
How is it that the city STILL has these people listed as owners a WHOPPING 12 YEARS AFTER the fire, AND 11 years AFTER the death of the surviving owner??????
What kind of record keeping does the city do??????????????????
What happens when the city sends mail and it comes back undeliverable??????
Look at the school tax bill issued in July 2014. I will 99% GUARANTEE that the incompetent mayor AND his EQUALLY INCOMPETENT (AND UNQUALIFIED) ASSESSOR, and employees in the tax office and the legal office will NOT have removed these people as the owners.
How in the world can a city have a property with unpaid taxes for a whopping 12 years -- all under mayor BS and mayor McThief -- and the city does not foreclose???????????