MAYVILLE - A Jamestown eyesore is one step closer to meeting its demise.
The County Legislature voted in June to transfer a property located at 648 E. Sixth St. to the Citizen's Opportunity for Development & Equality Inc. - a Jamestown-based not-for-profit revitalization group.
For the purchase price of $1, the county, which has all but finalized its land bank status, will transfer the derelict property to CODE. The transfer is contingent upon the demolition of the property within a year of acquisition.
Article Photos
This abandoned property, located at 648 E. Sixth St., Jamestown, will be transfered from the county to the Citizen’s Opportunity for Development & Equality Inc. for a possible demolition within the next year.
P-J photo by Eric Tichy
"It's burnt, it's dilapidated, it's been vandalized and it's not been maintained," said Michael Bradshaw, CODE executive director, of the East Sixth Street home.
Bradshaw said once site control is received from the county, CODE can apply for state funding to demolish the property. He added that if demolished, the lot - which will likely be privately owned - will be used to "link two neighborhoods" by installing a pathway lined with fruit trees and raised garden beds.
The paved pathway would connect East Sixth and Second streets up to the Appleyard developments, also a CODE-backed project.
Bradshaw, however, said state funding for the razing is not guaranteed.
"Well, that's always a good question," he said, noting that his group will be responsible for maintaining the lot once it takes ownership.
Five properties, including the East Sixth Street location, were discussed recently by the legislature's Administrative Services Committee. The properties are located in Jamestown, Dunkirk and the village of Fredonia.
Mark Geise, county Planning and Economic Development deputy director, said $150,000 in county seed money has been granted for the land bank corporation. Any revenue generated, Geise said, will be funneled back into the land bank for demolition and basic maintenance.
"This is an exciting time for the land bank and the county as it marks the first property to be designated for demolition by the corporation, and accomplishes one of the primary goals of the plan: to remove dilapidated residential structures that no longer satisfy a recognized need," Geise said of the Jamestown property.
"It also represents the kind of partnership that we seek to forge throughout the county so that we are working collaboratively and leveraging resources to accomplish common goals," he added.
During their meeting, county lawmakers approved Alexis Singleton of Jamestown to the land bank's sole remaining board of directors seat.