Addressing abandoned buildings following Albany fire
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — All throughout Wednesday morning, crews worked to demolish 610 Third Street, the site of a Tuesday afternoon fire. While the fire's cause is under investigation, it raises the question of how Albany's government manages condemned buildings like 610.
“There was fire showing from all of the second-floor windows, from all of the first-floor windows and the doorway, so the fire had a great jump on us," said Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory. “We determined that there was someone in the building or several people in the building at the time the fire started" Gregory added.
The Director of Albany's Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, Rick LaJoy, says the property had a troubled past.
“Before approximately 2020 we had started citing the owner to register his property as a vacant structure. He complied one time and he never re-registered" LaJoy explained.
LaJoy says there are several cases against the property owner, four of which he was prosecuted for, and two were sent to collection. Beyond that holding owners responsible for their neglected properties is a multi-agency effort.
“We exhaust every legal avenue that we have in our disposal...that baton is handed off to the Corporation Council,” LaJoy added.
The director says city attorneys take it from there to try to gain compliance, while negligent homeowners can face fines of up to $1,000 per day for violations.
As for solutions, Community Organizations like the Albany Community Land Trust are stepping in to relieve the issue of abandoned buildings by helping local residents buy homes. Assistant Property Manager Valerie Alexander-Moseley says the not-for-profit tries to revamp houses on entire city blocks.
“We're focused on First Street and we're focused on Third Street,” said Alexander-Moseley.
The end goal is improving communities.
“You see a big difference because now you don't have to empty lots you don't have the vacant apartments, you have brand new construction” Alexander-Moseley continued.