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June 16, 2022
Monticello – The Sullivan County Land Bank (SCLB) recently completed construction on three properties where previously vacant and abandoned houses that had suffered from extensive damage and prolonged neglect once sat. These new and affordable single-family homes that have taken the place of uninhabitable blight in the Villages of Liberty and Monticello have created homeownership opportunities for three local families.
The Land Bank’s new construction project was made possible with funding from the NYS Attorney General’s Office Community Revitalization Initiative, administered by Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Development costs were further offset with funding from the NYS Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC) and the NYS Office of Homes and Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, allowing the Land Bank to sell the homes at a price affordable to average working families in the area.
The Sullivan County Land Bank Corporation partnered with RUPCO, a regional affordable housing agency, to make this project a reality. RUPCO oversaw the construction and the purchase of the three new modular homes. The agency worked with prospective home buyers to ensure they met the program qualifications and could manage the responsibilities that come with being a homeowner. The new first-time home buyers include two families with young children and a veteran of the xxx-war.
“Funding for new home construction in the Villages of Liberty and Monticello is very important,” said Jill Weyer, the Land Bank’s Executive Director. “Owner-occupancy rates in the villages are quite low –28% for Monticello and 37% for Liberty – and there has been little single-family construction since the 1960s. According to the US Census American Community Survey, there has been minimal development since 2000, with no housing development in the villages from 2010 to 2013. The Land Bank’s new construction program is restoring value to vacant lots and will help stabilize neighborhoods creating a stronger sense of security, belonging and attachment to the home and the community. Programs to create affordable housing benefit the new home buyers and help longstanding homeowners who have lived in the community for decades and have seen a decline in the housing stock and whose homes have been devalued by vacant and abandoned buildings in their neighborhoods.”
“The Sullivan County Land Bank will continue to work on affordable homeownership projects and apply for funds to allow us to continue building new homes for our residents.” Ms. Weyer added. “We look forward to a continued partnership with RUPCO and providing a conduit for resources and assistance to make affordable homeownership a reality.”
The agencies will host a Closing Ceremony to celebrate the new homeowners on June 27th at 4 pm at 24 Mager Avenue, Liberty, NY. To register, contact Renee Dezemo at reneedezemo@ocrdac.org or 845-713-4568.
About Sullivan County Land Bank
The Sullivan County Land Bank’s mission is to strengthen neighborhoods by mitigating blight through strategic property acquisition that will create vibrant neighborhoods, increase homeownership, stimulate economic growth and support community development by returning properties to productive use and improve quality of life. For more information, visit www.sullivancountylandbank.org/
About RUPCO
RUPCO creates homes, supports people, and improves communities across a broad spectrum of community development solutions, including housing, historic preservation, and neighborhood revitalization in the Hudson Valley. RUPCO creates and maintains quality, sustainable housing and rental opportunities, inspires understanding and acceptance of affordable housing initiatives, and champions pathways to opportunity. For more information, visit www.rupco.org.