Kingston council updates surplus-property disposition policy to reflect state law; land bank options narrowed by new upfront costs

The City of Kingston Common Council on April 9 amended its surplus-property disposition policy to conform with recent changes in New York state law governing properties acquired through tax foreclosure and abandonment proceedings.

The revisions expand which parcels a municipal land bank may take first right to purchase, but they also require appraisals and upfront payment of assessed market or appraised value (or higher-tiered payments in some cases). Council members and staff said those provisions could significantly raise the immediate cost for the land bank and alter whether the city moves properties by request-for-proposals (RFP) or by auction.

Council staff presented the item as necessary to comply with state statutory changes that affect properties acquired under Article 11 (tax lien/foreclosure acquisitions) and Article 19-a (abandonment proceedings). Under the adopted policy…