AMSTERDAM — Four vacant and unsafe buildings across Amsterdam will be torn down in the coming weeks through an agreement with the Capital Region Land Bank.
“We’re excited, it’s going to make improvements in three very important neighborhoods in our city and we couldn’t do it without the Land Bank’s help,” Mayor Michael Cinquanti said. “Their assistance has been vital, it’s been valuable, they do a great job.”
A total of 17 buildings across the Land Bank’s territory will be torn down by Dan’s Hauling and Demo Inc. through a $650,240 contract awarded by the agency. The project is funded through the Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office of Community Renewal.
In Amsterdam, blighted buildings at 217-219 E. Main St., 302 Division St., 6 Kimball St. and 82 Prospect St. are slated for demolition. The structures have each been vacant for years and were previously deemed unsafe by Fire Chief Anthony Agresta.
“These four buildings have had a negative impact on the downtown and neighborhoods of Amsterdam for years,” Land Bank Chairman Richard Ruzzo said in a prepared statement. “Their demolition will have a positive impact and present opportunities for redevelopment and green space.”
217-219 E. Main Street in Amsterdam is scheduled for demolition Friday, April 19, 2024.
Other demolitions planned as part of the project will be in the city and county of Schenectady.
Amsterdam recently entered an access agreement with the Land Bank authorizing the agency to demolish the city-owned properties. The city will maintain title to the lots after the sites are cleared.
Removal of the badly deteriorating East Main Street structure along the city’s eastern gateway may spur redevelopment in the corridor. The building sits across from the former Carmel’s Diner and DiCaprio’s Diner at 210-212 E. Main St., which were previously demolished by the city.
“It's opening up areas on East Main Street that we hope are going to be converted for either commercial or housing use,” Cinquanti said.
Tearing down the blighted Division Street building will uplift the surrounding homes and free up a lot for potential conversion to public parking to address such shortages on the city’s West End.
“Getting rid of that house that’s falling down helps those two homes on either side, helps the value and just the spirit of the people who live there,” Cinquanti said.
Razing the neglected homes on Kimball and Prospect streets will likewise improve the appearance of the neighborhood and support overall rejuvenation efforts in the city.
The resulting lots could be marketed for sale through the property disposition committee or could potentially be eyed for new projects.
“We’ve sold a lot of vacant lots to neighbors who have done great jobs taking care of them and turning them into something nice, giving them more space,” Cinquanti said.
The parcels, in conjunction with other vacant lots in the city, could also be considered for the state’s Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program, which supports projects constructing single-family homes and townhouses for sale to first-time buyers.
The program is aimed at increasing the availability and affordability of homeownership opportunities. Its goals are similar to the Legacy City ACCESS Program, which supports the full renovation of neglected homes for sale to first-time buyers at affordable rates.
AIK Property Group began renovating nine homes in the city last year as part of a $3.7 million project through the Legacy City ACCESS Program. The city partnered with the Land Bank to pursue the project that was ultimately selected for the program created by state Homes and Community Renewal and the Community Preservation Corporation.
“It eliminates an eyesore, but it also provides an opportunity,” Cinquanti said of the upcoming demolitions. “We do have people actively looking at the lots we have available currently in our city for new programs that have come out for building all kinds of housing and we’re actively pursuing those opportunities.”
