Senator Calls for Action on Zombie Properties

While “zombie homes” might be a cool-sounding name for something, the reality is its own sort of plague for states like New York. In Rochester, these vacant, deteriorating properties, are a longstanding eyesore that the city wants to acquire, but federal foot-dragging is holding up those plans.

At least that's how Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sees it. In a recent press event, as well as in a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, Schumer urged HUD to approve the Asset Control Area Renewal Agreement, which would allow Rochester officials to acquire vacant homes and rehabilitate them.

The agreement with HUD had been on the books since 2003 and had allowed Rochester to acquire 750 foreclosed homes for rehab. The agreement also was typically renewed every two years, but it expired in February, forcing the city to stall its plans, leaving the fate of 2,000 zombie homes waiting for a decision.

The Democrat & Chronicle quoted Schumer at his press gathering saying, “Towns throughout Monroe County are struggling to get rid of these zombie homes, which post-foreclosure often become havens for problems that drag down neighborhoods.”

Schumer told reporters that HUD has been “dragging its feet” on the renewal of the agreement, thereby  “forcing City Hall to stall projects as it continues to wait for approval.”

Schumer called the agreement a “win-win-win” because it leads to rehabbing of vacant, often derelict properties, buoys local tax rolls, and provides houses for first-time buyers. In a fourth “win,” Schumer said the rehabbing of zombie homes also provides jobs for construction crews.

Schumer said, “HUD needs to wake up and to prevent this zombie home apocalypse from gaining the upper hand again and sucking the life from Rochester's neighborhoods.”

Schumer's office said that it estimates that each zombie property in the city of Rochester is worth $15,000 to the local tax rolls. At 2,000 properties, that translates to $30 million.

Learn more about how the challenge of zombie homes can be addressed:

Windy City Targets Zombie Homes

Zombie Homes: Why Won’t They Die Out?

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