Jennings and abandoned buildings

Sorry for the hiatus. While my attention was elsewhere:

Mayor Jennings, along with Attorney General Cuomo and DA Soares talked about abandoned buildings. Specifically, they announced a plan that involves targeting 50 blocks, establishing a Division of Neighborhood Revitalization, and creating a special court to address building code violations. They also plan to crack down legally on owners of buildings where crime is regularly taking place. These are all good things, and it's good to see Soares and Jennings appearing behind the same podium on something important.

However, the Times Union editorial about it was on point: It's good they're talking about it; it should be one of Jennings' major focuses for the rest of his term; the actual plan is not bad; and yet, talk isn't enough.

Point one: The plan needs money, and no one has said where its coming from.

Point two, which the TU didn't make: Until we change the incentives creating abandonment, all these clean-up programs are going to be a losing battle. Luckily, a team of planners the mayor invited to the city over the summer included some national experts in dealing with abandonment, and they offered a detailed, point-by-point agenda for both reducing and preventing abandonment. It wasn't even that expensive, and parts of it would pay for themselves before long.

Perhaps re-jiggering the details of the city-county foreclosure process, creating a detailed and functional database of abandoned properties, enforcing existing regulations, upping fees, and providing real rehab money to homeowners isn't as sexy a list as what this press conference was announcing, but it has the advantage of being well-tested and likely to make a long-term different in the pattern, not just a short-term difference in specific properties.

It's sad that there doesn't appear to have been any mention of any of this in the Jennings' plan. Does he remember that he said he'd move to implement the SDAT recommendations?

I suppose we have achieved recognition of abandoned properties as a major issue at least.

For more info on the topic at large: National Vacant Properties Campaign.

Comments

[Carmen Duncan]

Above I was happy to see that you brought up the fact about the SDAT recommendations. I have not heard much about the implementation of a team since the charettes in August. I have seen some prgress in the Pine
Hills neighborhood as far a rebuilding is concerned. I was very surprised to see the city contributing to this area because it seems to have been neglected sice I moved up here years ago. However I am still very interested in the SDAT team and wondering what is going on with it!