NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- Since 2013, the New York Attorney General's office says more than 1,600 abandoned properties have been reclaimed across the state, thanks to land banks like the one in the city of Newburgh.
But Eric Schneiderman says while much progress has been made since the 2008 housing crash, efforts need to continue.
“The program is important because it really does build on what makes New Yorkers, New Yorkers,” Schneiderman said.
That's why on Friday, Schneiderman came to Newburgh to announce a new pilot program that would help transform vacant buildings into affordable housing. He says the new program will provide New York State land banks with $4 million in subsidies.
“We know if people are given the chance, they’re going to try and do something about their communities,” Schneiderman said.
He says that money will help people take over abandoned properties in their neighborhoods at little to no cost, and fix them up. The program, called Neighbors for Neighborhoods, also requires the new housing units to remain affordable for at least 20 years.
Schneiderman hopes this program will solve two common problems faced in cities like Newburgh: affordable housing and zombie properties.
“Well-maintained rental housing serves as a powerful stabilizing force in communities, providing high-quality housing to low- and moderate-income families,” said Enterprise Community Partners Vice President Judi Kende.
The grant program will be administered by Enterprise Community Partners. The funding comes from settlements reached between banks and the attorney general's office related to the housing crisis.
The executive director of the Newburgh Community Land Bank, Madeline Fletcher, says this program will make a big impact on the city.
“In the neighborhoods where vacancy rates are an excess of 50 percent on some blocks, these partnerships will result in the creation of almost 100 units of historic high quality housing over the next 18 months,” Fletcher said.