Several of our community members in the Heights have banded together and pooled resources to rehab a vacant property on Courtney Avenue between Liberty Street and Bay View Terrace. Take a look at this video for an overview of their efforts!
Video by Freakfilms, Inc.
WHAT: Taxpayer and Concerned Citizens Meeting
WHERE: St George’s Episcopal Church, 105 Grand Street
WHEN: Wednesday, January 19th @ 7:00 PM
Dear neighbors,
As many of you know, the majority of the city council voted in November 2010 to adopt a budget that raises homestead property tax rates by 71% for 2011. The reality of that increase will shortly make itself felt as our first tax installments come due at the beginning of February. Furthermore, the acting city manager’s financial plan which was submitted to New York State’s Comptroller on December 22 forecasts additional minimum tax increases of 28% and 11% in 2012 and 2013 respectively. This is so even as the value of our properties continues to decline.
The response to the tax increase (both for homestead and non-homestead) and other fiscal decisions by the majority of the city council has been strong as many, many people struggle to manage in these difficult economic times. Please see the attached letter (linked below) regarding a meeting that will be held tomorrow, January 19 at 7pm for all concerned citizens and taxpayers who want to find out what legal rights and remedies may be available to challenge the imposition of such burdensome tax hikes. Due to the importance and urgency of this issue, we have canceled our monthly NHA meeting scheduled for tomorrow to provide you with the opportunity to attend this other meeting and to obtain information that may be critical to you and your family.
As a result of the considerable response to the attached letter calling for this meeting, it will NOT take place at the Wherehouse on Liberty St. as stated. Instead, the meeting will be held at St. George’s Church tomorrow, Wednesday January 19 at 7pm. The church is located at 105 Grand Street.
Please be aware that this meeting is not sponsored by the NHA. We are merely announcing a meeting which is of considerable interest to members of the Heights community as well as many other people throughout the entire city.
Regards,
The Newburgh Heights Association Team
Download:
→ Letter from City of Newburgh resident Hansel Tulloch (PDF)
Attention City of Newburgh Residents:
Be a part of the plan to bring back Newburgh’s vacant buildings!
Come to a COMMUNITY MEETING to learn about policy solutions to our vacant buildings problem and join the movement to fix up Newburgh, brick by brick!
• Hear the recommendations from PACE Land Use Law Center and Center for Community Progress
• Give input into what YOU want to see included in the plan
• Come up with ideas to make sure Newburgh’s revitalization benefits everyone
Wednesday, December 15th
6:00-8:00 PM
Ritz Theater Lobby, 111 Broadway
Sponsored by Community Voices Heard and Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh
Refreshments & Spanish translation will be provided.
For more information, contact CVH at (845) 562-2020 or PathStone at (845) 569-0770
Download:
• Meeting flier in English & Spanish (PDF, 1.1MB)
From MO’Betta (Mothers & Others for a Better Newburgh):
Dear Friends of MO’Betta:
The petition at the link below aims to bring greater attention to the City of Newburgh’s large number of unremedied codes violations and the role of Newburgh’s judges in this ongoing issue. We hope you’ll read the petition, sign it, and pass it on, in an effort to help us build strong public support for this initiative and get the attention of the judges to whom it is directed. Just imagine how much stronger our city could be if more of our buildings were in good repair. Thanks in advance for your support.
Mothers & Others for a Better Newburgh
Target: City of Newburgh residents, city employees and all other interested parties
Sponsored by: Mothers & Others for a Better Newburgh (MO’Betta)
Click here to sign the petition to Newburgh judges to hold Building codes violators accountable!
Three resolutions regarding the Liberty Street School development project by Bluestone Development, Inc. were unanimously adopted at tonight’s special City Council meeting.
At this time, Bluestone does not hold title for the Liberty Street School, and it remains the property of the City of Newburgh.
Download the three resolutions for more detail:
• City Rescinds Bluestone Resolution (.doc)
• Notice to Cure to Bluestone (.doc)
• Stop Work Order & City Emergency Steps Plan (.doc)
See also: Questions & Answers: Liberty Street School (July 16th, 2010)
The Newburgh City Council has provided answers to several questions about the Liberty Street School posed by the Newburgh Heights Association:
Q: Has Bluestone Developers, Inc. (Bluestone) met the requirements in section 7 of the LPA and established that it has secured 70% of the total estimated costs of the rehabilitation of the Premises and construction of the project? If so, what is this amount and what is the source of Bluestone’s funding? If not, is the City waiving this requirement for Closing and is this waiver in writing?
A: Bluestone has not demonstrated 70% secured funding for the project. Section 3 of the Letter Amendment to the June 19, 2008 Land Purchase Agreement (LPA), copies enclosed, as attached to Resolution No.: 144-2010 adopted on July 12, 2010, will delete the 70% funding requirement set forth in Section 7 of the Land Purchase Agreement.
Q: What is the impact of the release of asbestos at the school on: (i) the timeline for completion of the project; (ii) the cost of the project; and (iii) Bluestone’s ability to successfully and adequately abate the asbestos?
A: Bluestone will be responsible for all costs of obtaining a licensed asbestos contractor to submit an asbestos survey and to undertake asbestos cleanup, as required by the State Department of Labor. The maximum of 18 months to complete the project, following delivery of the deed, as required under Section 3 of Schedule C of the LPA, will not be extended by the Letter Amendment.
Q: Will the deed still contain the provisions in Schedule C of the LPA, including the requirement that Bluestone rehab the building and bring it in compliance with State, County and Local occupancy standards within 18 months of the date of the deed? Can the City enforce this requirement after title has passed? If not, what are the consequences?
A: Schedule C of the LPA, which survives delivery of the deed, will remain unchanged. The terms and conditions of Schedule C will be incorporated in the deed. The property will revert to the City if the project is not completed within 18 months of delivery of the deed.
Q: Can Bluestone amend the deed after it has title to eliminate all time-line requirements listed in the LPA? If so, what will the City do to ensure that this does not become yet another failed project?
A: Section 3 of Schedule C of the LPA, which will be incorporated in the deed, prohibits Bluestone from deeding the property to another person (or entity) before the project is completed.
Download: Land Purchase Agreement between the City of Newburgh and Bluestone Developers, Inc. (PDF)
City of Newburgh press release (PDF):
Acting City Manager Richard F. Herbek Issues Statement on Senate Approval of City of Newburgh Fiscal Recovery Act
The City of Newburgh Fiscal Recovery Act, which will help restore the City’s financial integrity, has been unanimously approved by the New York State Senate. The bill, S.8367 has moved to the Assembly Ways & Means Committee, where it is designated as A.11558. In order for the bill to be approved by the full Assembly, it must be reported out of the Ways & Means Committee.
At an emergency meeting on Friday, June 25, the City Council, also by unanimous vote, passed a resolution authorizing the submission of a home rule request for this legislation to the State Legislature. The measure will authorize the City of Newburgh to issue bonds to liquidate its deficits, and it will also impose requirements for budgetary operations and fiscal management.
According to Acting City Manager Richard Herbek, the City is currently facing a deficit in excess of $10 million. The City’s bond rating is currently “below investment grade,” which makes its ability to issue bonds at an affordable interest rate extremely difficult.
“Without this legislation, the City will continue to be in dire financial straits. Its operations will be affected on all levels,” he said. “The measure will allow the City to institute deficit financing and will also provide for increased State oversight of City finances.
“We are very grateful for the support of the State Senate, and we are hoping for a favorable outcome as we await the bill to be reported out by the House Ways & Means Committee,” he added. “This legislation is absolutely crucial to the financial recovery and the future fiscal stability of the City of Newburgh.”
This news item comes from The New York Landmarks Conservancy:
Preservation Alert
New NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit Threatened
The Legislature is considering a proposed tax law amendment to “temporarily” defer the historic preservation tax credits, among other business and environmental credits.
The preservation community is very concerned that this would cripple the historic preservation tax credits just when they have been made reasonably workable.
The credits have a five year sunset; a $5 million max per project that will likely seldom be reached, and apply only to distressed areas. The credits have enormous public and elected support, especially upstate. Many localities view the preservation tax credits as a welcome economic tool.
Rutgers completed a study of the economic impact of the federal historic tax credit this past March. The study showed that the $16.6 billion federal historic tax credit cost to date has encouraged a five times greater total amount of rehabilitation work ($85 billion); generated some 1.8 million new jobs and that the federal cost of the HTC is more than offset in federal taxes realized to date.
New York has utilized the federal tax credits more than most other states. The study showed that New York benefited from $198.5 million in rehabilitation investment that created 3,284 jobs and generated $141.5 million in income.
Based on the success of state-level preservation tax credits in other states, we expect New York State’s preservation tax credits to eventually pay for themselves in total investment, jobs and state taxes.
Please call the following offices right away and say: “Do not defer the rehabilitation tax credit.”
Governor Paterson: 518.474.8390
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: 518.455.3791
State Senator Tom Duane: 518.455.2451
State Senator Liz Krueger: 518.455.2297
State Senator Eric Schneiderman: 518.455.2041
Download a 2008–2009 timeline and report on the status of One Liberty Street (PDF).
Welcome to the Newburgh Heights Association blog! This is where we will post news and updates for members of the NHA.
