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Land Bank backs Arbor application, commits up to $50,000 to vacant-rental program and accepts $100,000 operating award
Summary
The Chemung County Land Bank voted to support Arbor Housing’s vacant-rental program application by committing up to $50,000, accepted a new $100,000 award for operating costs, and authorized applications for the New York Land Bank Initiative funding stream.
The Chemung County Land Bank voted to support Arbor Housing and Development’s application to the state’s vacant rental program and said it will set aside up to $50,000 toward rehabilitation efforts if the application is funded.
Arbor’s application seeks funding to bring vacant, uninhabitable rental units back online across Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler counties. The Land Bank’s letter of support, read to the board, states the Land Bank will “set aside $50,000 towards repair and rehabilitation efforts, bringing vacant rental units online to increase the supply of needed apartments through Chemung County.” Board members clarified that committing $50,000 does not obligate the Land Bank to expend the full amount immediately; it is a pledge of funding support if Arbor’s application is approved.
In a separate action the Land Bank accepted a $100,000 award for operating costs (part of prior rounds of the New York Land Bank Initiative) and authorized staff to apply for a new round of the state’s Land Bank property services funding, which includes stand-alone development, property acquisition, rehabilitation and small rental repair programs. Staff said the Land Bank could apply for a package of programming and up to $2 million overall under the initiative; the board instructed staff to prepare budgets and come back with a detailed application.
Board members discussed program mechanics, compliance and administration. Arbor’s staff said Arbor will lead program delivery and long-term regulatory compliance for rental and homeowner programs; the Land Bank would be a local administrator and pass through funds where appropriate. The vacant-rental program, as described to the board, would provide $50,000 to $75,000 per unit depending on income restrictions, with a 10-year regulatory compliance requirement for recipients.
The vote to support Arbor’s application and the vote to accept the $100,000 operating award both passed on voice votes. Board members said they would negotiate memoranda of understanding to set roles, monitoring, and administrative fees before funds are spent.
Board members also discussed larger state funding opportunities, including a home-repair component that can reach households above traditional program income caps (up to 120% AMI was mentioned as a possible target for a separate owner-occupied repair stream). Staff said some programs in the Land Bank Initiative and related rounds are restricted to land banks as applicants and that Arbor would act as an implementation partner where the Land Bank needs a delivery partner for long-term compliance and intake.
The board asked staff to return with draft MOUs and budget details to guide any eventual expenditures and to ensure monitoring responsibilities are clear before money is disbursed.
