By Michelle Houston Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — A proposed tax law could benefit Land Bank Homes.
The proposed tax law could require an increase of money from home sellers.
The tax is a one-time tax which means home sellers would see this occasionally and not every year.
Money from this proposed tax would go to three different projects. These projects are infrastructure, arts programs and Land Bank homes.
Home Headquarters Communication Officer Karen Schroeder says housing is the most overlooked among infrastructure and arts programs.
“If there was some kind of fund that could not only sustain the land bank which something we need in this area but also other housing efforts because it’s important to be able to hold properties and sell and demolish them if necessary,” said Schroeder.
A resident who lived on the south side of Syracuse for four years says this has been an ongoing problem. She says fixing the house next door to her will improve the appearance of her street.
“Look at this one I don’t want to say it’s a disgrace but they need to fix them to make it look better enhance the community,” she said.
She says the house next door to her attracts rats and other rodents and fixing up the house will help.
“It will make our neighborhood much nicer much more attractive that’s how I like it.”
According to Home Headquarters renovation projects can cost thousands of dollars, depending on how much work needs to be done to a home. Schroeder says this could potentially help.
As far as the status of the proposed tax law goes, it did not do well with the county. This law, however, requires both the state and the county’s approval. With the legislative session ending in a few days, the law more than likely will not be passed. But residents have hope that the county will try again.
Dallas:
The fate of a proposed tax law will be determined soon.
Jonathan:
Our Michelle Houston tells who will be affected by this raise if it’s passed.
Michelle: Yes that’s right. I’m live on West Pleasant Avenue and behind me is one of the homes that could benefit from the proposed tax. The proposed tax could go towards projects in Syracuse and as I mentioned earlier it can go towards rennovations on Land Bank homes. Now all throughout Syracuse you can find Land Bank homes throughout the city and members of the Home HeadQuarters says that this has been an ongoing problem and these projects and rennovations can cost up to thousands of dollars. So this proposed tax can help them to be able to help these homes throughout the city. Now members of the south side community says this is an ongoing problem and this can benefit their community.
Neighbor: It will make our neighborhood much nicer much more attractive that’s how I like it.
Schroeder says this has been an ongoing problem.
Karen Schroeder: If there was some kind of fund that could not only sustain the Land Bank which something in this area but also other housing efforts because it’s important to be able to hold properties and sell and demolish them if necessary
Neighbors who lived on the south side for four years says they watched the house next door to them turn into a Land Bank home.
Neighbor: look at this one I don’t want to say it’s a disgrace but they need to fix them to make it look better enhance the community.
Michelle: Now the home she was referring to next to her had broken windows as well as steps missing from the house and the house was known to have lead problems as well. Now the tax did not go through with the county but it still has to be looked at by the state as well and members say that it’s not looking too well as the legislative session comes to an end soon. So the tax most likely will not go through. Although this is looking like the result for it it’s not stopping members from being hopeful that this could possibly help their neighborhood. Live from West Pleasant Avenue, I’m Michelle Houston with NCC News.
