Auburn council approves sale of four tax-foreclosed homes with renovation conditions

The Auburn City Council on Feb. 6 approved four land-sale resolutions to sell tax-foreclosed residential properties, three to Housing Visions Consultants Inc. for $5,000 each and one to Brandon Mallory for $40,000, with conditions that buyers obtain permits within 30 days, complete renovations by specified deadlines and accept a revisionary clause that returns title to the city if conditions are not met.

Council action returned four parcels to private ownership while imposing timelines and reversion rights intended to ensure rehabilitation and return of the properties to the tax rolls.

During the meeting Mayor James N. Genentino Jr and City staff described the city’s shift from open auction sales toward listing foreclosed properties with a contracted real-estate agent to give the city more control over buyers and post-sale conditions. Jennifer Haines, city manager, said the city now requires buyers to pull permits within 30 days of closing and to complete renovations by set deadlines; failure to meet those conditions will trigger an automatic reversion of title to the city.

The four approved resolutions were: Land Sale Resolution No. 10 of 2025 (19–21 Venice Street) sold to Housing Visions Consultants Inc. for $5,000; Land Sale Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (17–19 Derby Ave) sold to Housing Visions Consultants Inc. for $5,000; Land Sale Resolution No. 12 of 2025 (41 Lansing Street) sold to Housing Visions Consultants Inc. for $5,000; and Land Sale Resolution No. 13 of 2025 (266 Seymour Street) sold to Brandon Mallory for $40,000. Each sale is conditioned on a quitclaim deed at closing, buyer responsibility for title/survey/closing costs, permit acquisition within 30 days, and specified completion dates. The three Housing Visions purchases must finish renovations on or before Dec. 31, 2027; the Seymour Street sale specifies completion within one year of closing.

Councilors moved and seconded the resolutions as noted in the agenda and each motion passed on roll call votes with the council members present voting in favor. The meeting record shows Councilor Cuddy and Councilor Clerco sponsoring and seconding several of the motions and Councilor Kent sponsoring others; Mayor Genentino cast an affirmative vote in each roll call. Overstreet Wilson was excused from the meeting.

Public comments preceding the land-sale items raised neighborhood concerns. Pamela Cossack said she had seen the same buyer’s name repeatedly for multiple properties seized for back taxes and asked whether those properties would become low-income housing or be renovated and resold. Claude Bonadilla urged the council to consider homelessness and housing insecurity in broader policy discussions. Haines and Mayor Genentino responded during the land-sale discussion by describing how the city evaluates each foreclosed parcel, sometimes partnering with local housing organizations, and by noting that one project discussed earlier on State Street is planned as permanent supportive or transitional housing rather than a homeless shelter.

Mayor Genentino also noted that Housing Visions has worked in Auburn for decades on neighborhood projects, citing past work on Westlake Avenue and Orchard Street and saying the organization plans to own and rent many of the renovated units. Haines said the city uses a real-estate agent procured through an RFP—listed in the discussion as agent Steve Beyer—to market properties and solicit offers that can include nonprofit or mission-driven buyers.

Council documents direct staff to close the transactions, have the mayor sign closing documents, and record sale proceeds into revenue account A992660 (sale of real property). Councilor comments supporting the sales emphasized neighborhood revitalization and the city’s intent to address chronic property maintenance issues caused by prior auction-based sales.

The mayor disclosed a relationship during the Seymour Street discussion: he said that Brandon Mallory is a coworker of his at Medent (disclosure recorded in the minutes). No council member called for recusal and the motion passed.

Next steps: staff will finalize closings, record proceeds to the designated revenue account, and oversee permit and renovation compliance under the contracts and revisionary clauses.

Votes at a glance

- Land Sale Resolution No. 10 (19–21 Venice St.) — Buyer: Housing Visions Consultants Inc.; Price: $5,000; Conditions: quitclaim deed, buyer pays title/survey/closing costs, permits within 30 days, renovations complete by 12/31/2027; Outcome: approved (Councilor Kent — yes; Councilor Cuddy — yes; Councilor Clerco — yes; Mayor James N. Genentino Jr — yes).

- Land Sale Resolution No. 11 (17–19 Derby Ave.) — Buyer: Housing Visions Consultants Inc.; Price: $5,000; Conditions: quitclaim deed, buyer pays title/survey/closing costs, permits within 30 days, renovations complete by 12/31/2027; Outcome: approved (Kent — yes; Cuddy — yes; Clerco — yes; Genentino — yes).

- Land Sale Resolution No. 12 (41 Lansing St.) — Buyer: Housing Visions Consultants Inc.; Price: $5,000; Conditions: quitclaim deed, buyer pays title/survey/closing costs, permits within 30 days, renovations complete by 12/31/2027; Outcome: approved (Kent — yes; Cuddy — yes; Clerco — yes; Genentino — yes).

- Land Sale Resolution No. 13 (266 Seymour St.) — Buyer: Brandon Mallory; Price: $40,000; Conditions: quitclaim deed, buyer pays title/survey/closing costs, permits within 30 days, renovations complete within one year of closing; Outcome: approved (Kent — yes; Cuddy — yes; Clerco — yes; Genentino — yes).