The Chenango IDA and Chenango County officials are one step closer to forming a county-wide land bank, now waiting for state approval. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NORWICH – The Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is making strides in creating a land bank in Chenango County in an ongoing effort to restore blighted properties throughout the county.

In August, the IDA submitted an application to Empire State Development to form a land bank in Chenango County, the first of its kind according to IDA officials. The IDA is now waiting to hear back from the state department on its next move.

“We’re just waiting for some direction from the state in the formation of that,” said Tyler Oliver, economic development director for Commerce Chenango.

The formation of a local land bank was sanctioned by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors back in February to curtail vacant, abandoned, underutilized, and tax-delinquent real properties. Land banks have legal authority to target foreclosed “problem properties,” obtaining them cheaply or tax-free through municipal tax foreclosure processes.

Land banks have special legal powers to clear clouded titles, extinguish back taxes, and raze or renovate blighted structures, and later selling them to a preferred purchaser based on the needs of the community, such as affordable housing or local businesses.

The Chenango County delinquent tax department has cited an increase of properties in foreclosure in recent years, imposing financial and social burdens on the county and local municipalities. IDA, county, and officials of the City of Norwich have pinpointed a number of properties in Norwich that would likely fall under the land bank’s purview.

A resolution authorizing the creation of a Chenango County land bank notes that tax-foreclosed and abandoned properties “contribute to declining property values, neighborhood destabilization, public safety concerns, and reduced housing availability, while also increasing costs related to code enforcement, maintenance, and demolition.”

In compliance with state law, county supervisors established a land bank board of directors in June, consisting of seven representatives of agencies including officials of the IDA, the Development Chenango Corporation, the City of Norwich, NBT Bank, and the Chenango County Department of Health.

Under state law, the county’s land bank may consist of up to 15 directors, allowing county officials to increase the number of people serving on the county’s land bank in the future.