City-Owned Property

[Caz5]

Reading the debate in the Buffalo News with regards to the disputed property on Ridge Road between the 2nd Baptist Church and the Yemenite Benevolent Association, my questions are:

1. How can land be sold, unsold, sold again...?
2. How much is this costing the taxpayers??? If the City attorney who is on the payroll is withdrawing from the negotiations due to "conflict of interests," just how much is an outside attorney going to cost?
3. Aren't there any rules or ordinances or whatever for HOW to sell city-owned property? Procedures to follow? Forms to fill out and process?
4. Isn't ANYONE IN CHARGE????

[WNYresident]

2. How much is this costing the taxpayers??? If the City attorney who is on the payroll is withdrawing from the negotiations due to "conflict of interests," just how much is an outside attorney going to cost?

How or why is there a conflict of interest?

[Caz5]

Silence?

Again, how much $$$ is it going to cost the taxpayers to hire an outside attorney to do the job of the CITY ATTORNEY who is on the city payroll? Remember folks, this property is being sold to a non-profit organization, which translates into NO REVENUE for the City (other than the initial sale), so the money the city is having to cough up to hire an outside attorney is NOT going to be recouped via property taxes, is it????

How can there be a "conflict of interest" if the city attorney is supposed to represent the city???

[mnb811]

How or why is there a conflict of interest?

The city attorney is with Szymanski who is kissing up to the Yemenites.

The Council President Jaworski is flip flopping worse than a fish out of water and looking for votes so he's siding with the African Americans.

The Democrats in Power in Lackawanna just love this kind of stuff. They play the race card every chance they get then when everything goes to s**t nothing gets accomplished and everything gets worse! Then they have an excuse to use for not fixing up the 1st Ward which is: "We tried to do something but "them" people never get along." a councilman/mayoral candidate that is running said that once. He knows who he is!


The funny thing is while all these 1st ward folks are taking sides they end up screwing themselves in the process. Either they are totally blind,clueless or so self centered on their hatred for each other they have no idea to how they are being played! Meanwhile those in power are laughing their asses off at them and keeping the 1st Ward exactly like it has been for decades!

If both of these groups were smart they would join forces and become a force to be reckoned with. It is just common sense. Now you all know why the first ward looks like s**t!

[YNOTNOW]

The city attorney is with Szymanski who is kissing up to the Yemenites.

The Council President Jaworski is flip flopping worse than a fish out of water and looking for votes so he's siding with the African Americans.

The Democrats in Power in Lackawanna just love this kind of stuff. They play the race card every chance they get then when everything goes to s**t nothing gets accomplished and everything gets worse! Then they have an excuse to use for not fixing up the 1st Ward which is: "We tried to do something but "them" people never get along." a councilman/mayoral candidate that is running said that once. He knows who he is!


The funny thing is while all these 1st ward folks are taking sides they end up screwing themselves in the process. Either they are totally blind,clueless or so self centered on their hatred for each other they have no idea to how they are being played! Meanwhile those in power are laughing their asses off at them and keeping the 1st Ward exactly like it has been for decades!

If both of these groups were smart they would join forces and become a force to be reckoned with. It is just common sense. Now you all know why the first ward looks like s**t!

Wow... Good post Mnb811

[Caz5]

FYI - both the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 City Budgets have a line for "Legislative Consultant" - and BOTH budgets allot -0- (a big goose egg!) for those services. The City Attorney is earning $75,311 and an Assistant City Attorney is earning $39,300...yet (and I quote):

"Jaworski later initiated a measure to HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL to
handle legal aspects of the negotiation between the city, the Yemenite
group and the church."

The city attorney and assistant attorney already are being paid a total of $114,611 AND Petricca "recused" himself due to a "conflict of interest"?

[andreahaxton]

FYI - both the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 City Budgets have a line for "Legislative Consultant" - and BOTH budgets allot -0- (a big goose egg!) for those services. The City Attorney is earning $75,311 and an Assistant City Attorney is earning $39,300...yet (and I quote):

"Jaworski later initiated a measure to HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL to
handle legal aspects of the negotiation between the city, the Yemenite
group and the church."

The city attorney and assistant attorney already are being paid a total of $114,611 AND Petricca "recused" himself due to a "conflict of interest"?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$

Their Cadillac Health benefits, 2 have Family coverage the other single
And.....
1 Legal Secretary $39,945 (husband City Marshall $55.00 a pop)
Accrued Payroll $1190

Contractual Expenses
Books and periodicals $3000
Arbitration Fees $2500


But the BIG MONEY is in the, SPECIAL ITEMS
CODE A 1900 page 18, 2011/12' Lackawanna City Budget
.1930 "Judgements and Claims".... $225,000! aka sort of hidden/slush fund money for outside attorneys to do the work that the can't OR won't do! Lawsuits come out of this too at times.

[getalife123]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$

Their Cadillac Health benefits, 2 have Family coverage the other single
And.....
1 Legal Secretary $39,945 (husband City Marshall $55.00 a pop)
Accrued Payroll $1190

Contractual Expenses
Books and periodicals $3000
Arbitration Fees $2500


But the BIG MONEY is in the, SPECIAL ITEMS
CODE A 1900 page 18, 2011/12' Lackawanna City Budget
.1930 "Judgements and Claims".... $225,000! aka sort of hidden/slush fund money for outside attorneys to do the work that the can't OR won't do! Lawsuits come out of this too at times.

toxic

[mnb811]

Let's see 4-5 lots at 500 bucks a pop is 2000 to 2500 bucks right? Now after PAYING THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL how much of this money will be left? Probably nothing and more than likely the city will be in the hole on the deal. Guess who gets raped? The taxpayer! If you had a standard for selling vacant lots you could have avoided the problem. That's right there was but....friends and family needed a deal right? Wonder how much Curly's paid for that vacant lot now their parking lot formerly known as the Astro Lite?

[WNYresident]

Let's see 4-5 lots at 500 bucks a pop is 2000 to 2500 bucks right? Now after PAYING THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL how much of this money will be left? Probably nothing and more than likely the city will be in the hole on the deal. Guess who gets raped? The taxpayer! If you had a standard for selling vacant lots you could have avoided the problem. That's right there was but....friends and family needed a deal right? Wonder how much Curly's paid for that vacant lot now their parking lot formerly known as the Astro Lite?

You mean the outside legal fee's usually end up costing what ever the lots are sold for?

[mnb811]

Well this here is a first as far as disputes go. Neither side is going to cave and the end result is what I posted previously. These lots will sell for 500bucks. All together your looking at around $2500. This outside counsel will probably be the city's outside law firm. When you add up the legal fees is it really worth it? You decide.

This is a result of selling land in a free for all mode for years. Certian connected people were given deals but others outside the loop were not or outright refused. All this is just election year bs that the people in power who are running against each other for mayor are using to gain votes with certian minorities. Whatever side wins will feel the wrath of the other side and the 2 councilmen who are playing games will be to blame.

[Caz5]

On October 5, 2010 there was yet another battle over city-owned property that was reported on the Channel 7 news entitled: "Two Religious Groups Battle Over Lackawanna Land."

This battle was over a 6.5 acre parcel of land on South Street. The Mosque offered $5,000. Jaworski insisted that the land was "toxic" and that no one was allowed to dig there. The DEC had cleaned the land, but there were restrictions put on the deed. Pastor Woods (First Baptist Church) claimed his congregation tried to purchase the land twice before, but were denied. When the pastor discovered that the Mosque had verbalized interest in purchasing that piece of property, the First Baptist Church put in another bid.

[andreahaxton]

COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday, January 5, 2009

Sale of Property - Abdulsalam Noman
To: City Council

My office has received an offer from Adbulsalam Noman to purchase the above mentioned property for the purpose of construction of a single family home. The three parcels will be combined so that they meet current zoning requirements. It is my recommendation that the City Council sell the above parcel to Adbulsalam Noman for the sum of $1,500. The purchaser will be responsible for the survey cost and any closing costs incurred by the law department. The deed will also contain a reverter clause stating that a new home will be constructed within 18 months or the land reverts back to the City of Lackawanna .

ABDULSALAM NOMAN

Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Schiavi, recommendation be accepted and approved with proviso that the reverter clause be included wherein a home will be constructed on the property within eighteen (18) months, otherwise property be reverted back to the City, refer to law department for ordinance.

Moved by Haxton to amend motion to table request. No second. Amendment moot

Moved by Szymanski, seconded by Haxton, sale of property 149-161 Ingham and 31 James Street be tabled for further study.

Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski

Nays: Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski Amendment defeated 3 – 2

Vote on Original Motion to accept sale with reverter clause

Yeas: Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski

Nays: Haxton Carried 4 – 1

Tax Map ID / Property Data

Status: Active Roll Section: Taxable
Address: 149 Ingham Ave
Property Class: 311 - Res vac land Site Property Class: 311 - Res vac land
Site: Res 1 In Ag. District: No
Zoning Code: MR - Mixed Resident Bldg. Style: 0
Neighborhood: 00109 - 1st Ward School District: Lackawanna
Legal Property Description: Second lot 40 x 120 next to 149 ingham
Total Acreage/Size: 144 x 150 Equalization Rate: ----
Land Assessment: 2011 - $19,000
2010 - $19,000 Total Assessment: 2011 - $19,000
2010 - $19,000
Full Market Value: 2011 - $19,000
2010 - $19,000 Market Value/sqft: N/A

00109 - 1st Ward School District: Lackawanna
Legal Property Description: Second lot 40 x 120 next to 149 ingham
Total Acreage/Size: 144 x 150 Equalization Rate: ----
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


The Assessor told me the rule of selling City owned property is:
A Build-able Lot must be > 60' wide = 66 2/3% of the ASSESSED VALUE
An " UNBuildable Lot is < 60' wide = 33 1/3% of the Assessed Value................So, do the math, And.......

It is too early for me to do the calculation exactly , but we (the City on behalf of the People) should have gotten $9-10,000 instead of the blatant-wimpy $1500.00 for the appr. 1/2 acre if they followed the rule!

Another election year deal for political favor!
Personally, I do not care if people got it for a reduced, negotiated fair amount if they move quickly and get it on the tax roll---BUT.........

EVERYONE SHOULD GET FAIR PRICES---NOT just the family and friends club!
Now I know what is coming so.....come on, bring it on!

[Caz5]

In 2008, the City of Buffalo initiated a MARKETING PROGRAM to assist in selling 125 city-owned homes. The City distributed a catalog of city-owned homes to local nonprofits, community organizations, neighborhood block clubs, and posted it on the City's website. EVERY HOME IN THE CATALOG WAS SOLD!

The City puts a 6-month hold on property demolition if a buyer demonstrates interest in acquiring the property.

Other cities in the country use various marketing techniques to spur market demand for city-owned property:

1. working closely with real estate brokers
2. collaborating with nonprofit and private developers
3. establishing economic incentives such as property tax abatements

The costs associated with abandoned city-owned property in 2008 was estimated to be $4,000 per year which includes tax revenue loss and other economic and non-economic costs associated with NEIGHBORHOOD DETERIORATION.

Buffalo utilizes 3 tools to dispose of tax-foreclosed property:
1. public auction (to the highest bidder)
2. urban homestead program (allows a homeowner to purchase vacant or abandoned city-owned property for $1 plus closing costs)
3. negotiated purchase (through the City's Division of Real Estate)

In Syracuse, they aggressively seize tax-delinquent properties WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO RESTORE THESE HOMES TO PRODUCTIVE USE (in other words, they don't allow the properties to deteriorate to a heap of nothing!)

In Baltimore, real estate brokers work in a joint venture with the city and the brokers receive a flat-fee for helping buyers cut through red tape in purchasing city-owned properties.

In Cleveland, city-owned property is either sold through the land bank or REHABILITATES THE PROPERTY FOR RESALE.