OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF SCHENECTADY
NEW YORK
City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Rm 111
Schenectady, N.Y. 12305-1938
Office: (518) 382-5000
Cell: (518) 424-0483
Fax: (518) 382-5272
gmccarthy@schenectadyny.gov
Gary R. McCarthy
Mayor
For Release: Immediate
Date: September 8, 2015
Press Release
Mayor Gary R. McCarthy Announces Plan for
Next Round of Demolition in Schenectady
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Ten Additional Structures to Be Demolished In Coming Weeks
Schenectady, N.Y. — Mayor Gary McCarthy today announced that ten more blighted buildings in Schenectady are scheduled to be demolished following approval of the demolition contract by the City Council. These demolitions continue to clear the way for further neighborhood redevelopment and investment.
“This continues our sustained efforts to remove neighborhood blight which is an obstacle to investment and improving quality of life,” said Mayor McCarthy said. “In combination with the Land Bank, we have or are in the process of removing over one hundred vacant and distressed properties, while also investing in renovating hundreds of other homes throughout the City.”
The demolitions will be paid for using U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding received by the City. HUD is working with Schenectady on an innovative program to use HUD 108 Loan Funds, to be repaid through future CDBG grants and from sales tax revenue, for demolition and community revitalization. The Mayor worked closely with Senator Chuck Schumer to secure this funding for Schenectady.
Richard Ruzzo, Chairman of the Capital Region Land Bank which services the City of Schenectady, Amsterdam and Schenectady County said, “We congratulate the Mayor and his team on moving forward with ten more demos. The Land Bank will be announcing its next demo plans in Schenectady very shortly so that we can continue the momentum in our neighborhood revitalization efforts.”
These demolitions build upon Schenectady’s continuing efforts to remove blight, renovate homes, and bring new investment. Schenectady has put together $10 million in State grants, Federal funds, local assistance and private resources to demolish severely blighted structures and rehabilitate others. The Capital Region Land Bank is currently working on nine demolitions, many in the Eastern Avenue and Northside neighborhoods, utilizing $3 million in funding provided by Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s Land Bank Community Revitalization Initiative. Building demolitions and renovation work will continue throughout the City as part of Mayor McCarthy’s Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady (HOMES Schenectady) program designed to increase homeownership and boost Schenectady neighborhoods.
The following ten dilapidated structures will be demolished:
- 401 Brandywine Avenue
- 636 Crane Street
- 642-644 Crane Street
- 706 Crane Street
- 710 Crane Street
- 113 Duane Avenue
- 319 Duane Avenue
- 1580 Foster Avenue
- 227 Furman Street
- 80 Wyllie Street
Jackson Demolition of Schenectady submitted a bid of $568,410, the lowest of three bids received.
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