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GLOVERSVILLE — April 1 stands out to Gloversville Mayor Vincent DeSantis.
That’s when he’ll learn how many tax-delinquent properties Gloversville can potentially acquire from Fulton County and, if all goes according to plan, eventually sell off to buyers vetted by the city’s novel property disposition committee.
Local lawmakers last fall earmarked $300,000 in federal COVID-19 relief dollars for purchasing tax-foreclosed holdings — nearly double the amount used for purchases during the anti-blight initiative’s pilot phase two years ago.
“I hope it’s not going to be too large, but it’ll be a big lift,” DeSantis said. “But we do have the enthusiasm at City Hall to do something like this.”
The Democratic mayor plans to approach the county Board of Supervisors to purchase a swath of soon-to-be-named properties in April. While it typically takes three years to seize delinquent properties, the process has been delayed due to COVID-19.
Gloversville handed over authority to foreclose properties to the county in 2004. The move has proven to be a double-edged sword: the city no longer has to pay for owed school district taxes but lacks control over the fate of auctioned properties.
DeSantis’ committee model allows a group of appointed officials to screen select buyers in order to erase blight from the post-industrial city. After reviewing applications, recommendations are passed onto the Common Council for a final vote.
“It’s an interesting approach because we try to get these properties into the hands of first-time homebuyers, people who have the wherewithal to bring those properties up to code and maintain them,” DeSantis said.
Approximately $145,404 in 10 foreclosed holdings were bought by the city in 2021. Recent sales include a property on 19 Summer St. sold for $15,000 and another on 213 Main St. for $1,600.
One property deemed unsalvageable has been demolished since the committee started, an approach DeSantis said allows neighboring properties values to rise. However, most of the holdings have been fixable. In fact, the value of a purchased Spring Street property increased from $0 to more than $200,000 upon renovation.
Citing unfinished business, First Ward Councilwoman, and disposition committee member, Marcia Weiss is ready to get the ball rolling again next month.
“Because of the ARPA funds, we’ve got the money to go ahead, purchase a bunch of these properties and get them back on the market again, get them back in good condition in the neighborhoods,” Weiss said. “Just about every neighborhood has a house that’s not exactly exciting at this point.”
The group, which hasn’t met yet this year, will be composed of Weiss, Councilman-at-Large Wayne Peters, City Assessor Ryan Feane, Community Development Agency Consultant Nick Zabawsky and Building Inspector David Fox. Since longtime assessor Joni Dennie retired last year, the committee has lacked a chair.
Tyler A. McNeil can be reached at 518-395-3047 or [email protected] Follow him on Facebook at Tyler A. McNeil, Daily Gazette or Twitter @TylerAMcNeil.
