JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council is holding is monthly voting session Monday night in city hall.
The city council will act on giving approval to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency to acquire a long-time dilapidated property on Lakeview Ave.
Last week, city development director Vince DeJoy and attorney Ben Haskin said JURA is looking to acquire the property, located at 402 Lakeview Ave.,in order to help see it renovated into an owner-occupied home.
The house, which has been abandoned for almost five years, will be acquired by JURA through a new state tax law that allows zombie houses to be transferred to home municipalities when certain criteria is met. Once the city owns the property, requests for proposals will then be sent out to potential developers to purchase, rehab and either live in it or sell it.
Potential developers will be able to use the city’s new Local Property Tax Abatement Incentive for redeveloping vacant and condemned properties, as well as historic tax credits, to help restore the house.
Among the other items being voted on is the application for a grant to fund new playground equipment for Chadakoin Park on the city’s north side. The costs associated with the new playground equipment is projected to be around $200,000.
The council will also vote to accept a grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for $136,000 for the West Second Street public piazza project in front of the National Comedy Center. The $700,000 project will provide a pedestrian-friendly area as motor vehicle traffic through the street being blocked off. The closure and use is expected to take place only during special events and activities during certain times of the year.
Monday’s meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers of city hall and is open to the public.
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