By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Thanks to a resolution co-sponsored by Onondaga County Legislator Ken Bush, Onondaga County will rehabilitate and sell two abandoned properties in the town of Van Buren.

The legislature passed the resolution Dec. 17, 2019, allowing the county to take ownership of the tax-delinquent properties at 106 Baker Blvd. and 120 Northrup Blvd. as well as six other properties in Salina, Clay and DeWitt.

Ken Bush told the Messenger that the county is in the process of cleaning out the homes, which will then be refurbished and sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers through the county’s Community Development programs.

“They will bring the houses up to code and somewhat modern standards,” Bush said.

Bush said the county maintains a list of eligible homeowners to whom the available properties will be shown.

“Typically, there’s a $30,000 grant that is applied toward the mortgage for an eligible homebuyer to provide a nice little perk to them,” Bush said.

Bush said his constituents in Van Buren are excited that the county will flip the abandoned homes.

“I went to one house and told them what was going on and the couple said it’s the best Christmas they’ve had because they’ve lived next to this house for three years, ultimately ending up having to mow the lawn because there was no one living there,” he said. “it’s a real shot in the arm for people’s morale and pride in their street to have these houses spruced up, back on the market and have a family living there.”

To learn more about Onondaga County’s Community Development program, visit ongov.net/cd.

The county is looking for contractors to help with its home rehabilitation programs. Interested contractors can visit ongov.net/cd/contractorInformation.html.