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Schumer urges renewal of HUD program that renovates zombie houses
Sen. Charles Schumer, pictured here during a visit to Rochester in September, is calling for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to renew an agreement to renovate zombie houses in Rochester. (File photo provided by Sen. Schumer's office)
Sen. Charles Schumer, pictured here during a visit to Rochester in September, is calling for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to renew an agreement to renovate zombie houses in Rochester. (File photo provided by Sen. Schumer's office)
Schumer urges renewal of HUD program that renovates zombie houses
A federal program that allows the city of Rochester to transform zombie properties into affordable homes for first-time buyers is about to expire.
Since 2005, the city has purchased and renovated more than 850 vacant Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-foreclosed homes, boosting the supply of affordable houses while increasing neighborhood property values.
That’s why U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is imploring HUD Secretary Scott Turner to renew the Asset Control Area (ACA) Agreement between the department and city of Rochester before it expires on July 1.
“Without immediate full renewal, Rochester will lose access to being able to acquire and rehab now vacant HUD-foreclosed homes, transforming these ‘zombie properties’ into safe, affordable housing for first-time homebuyers,” Schumer said in a letter to Turner.
Schumer’s office said that renovating the more than 850 homes has boosted property values in impacted neighborhoods by an average of $15,000 while creating $33.5 million in work for local contractors.
Schumer also wants HUD to streamline the process and allow bulk submission of property lists and rehab plans. Under current regulations, properties must be submitted one at a time.
“Securing this renewal will enable us to turn boarded-up, vacant houses into dream homes for first-time buyers and generate steady work for our skilled tradespeople and local contractors,” Mayor Malik Evans said.
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