NEWS: Bond to Protect Historic Buidlings Approved by NYS Legislature
From our colleagues at the Preservation League of NYS (www.preservenys.org)
LEGISLATION OFFERS NEW OPTIONS TO PROTECT HISTORIC BUILDINGS, COMMUNITY CHARACTER
ALBANY, 6/15/2006 – Abandoned and unsafe buildings across New York State may soon have a new lease on life, thanks to legislation that passed the Assembly on May 22nd and was approved yesterday by the New York State Senate.
The measure (A. 8854-A / S.5759-A) would amend Chapter 78 of the Laws of 2005 that allows municipalities to bond the cost of demolition of privately owned buildings determined to be a threat to public health or safety. Under the current law, municipalities can undertake bonding only for the purpose of demolition.
“There are cases where, due to planning, historic or architectural considerations, demolition of significant properties is not desirable,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State. “Under this legislation, municipalities could bond, for a 5-year period, the cost of repair and stabilization of such structures, making them safe, secure and protected for eventual reuse. These costs could include intervention actions such as boarding windows, sealing roofs, shoring up foundations or façades and other emergency repairs that would address public safety concerns, but preserve such properties for future reinvestment.” According to Peter Baynes, Executive Director of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials, “This legislation will assist local governments in their economic (more)development and revitalization efforts by providing them with another mechanism to enhance their community’s existing infrastructure. This financing option better enables municipalities to undertake emergency repairs – rather than demolition – when it is in the financial interest of the local government.”
Although municipalities have the legal authority to recover the costs of such repairs from the property owner or property owner’s insurance company, the municipality was previously forced to cover the unanticipated costs for these repairs from its operating budget. “Municipalities will soon have a new tool that allows them to choose stabilization and repair of a deteriorated building when public safety is threatened,” said Daniel Mackay, Public Policy Director of the Preservation League. “Thanks to the leadership of Assemblyman Paul Tokasz and Senators William Stachowski and Dale Volker, municipal leaders have new authority to intervene to save a building for future reuse rather than default to demolition and site clearance.” The measure now goes to the Governor for consideration. ###