Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property And Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Solicitor reports title clearances, deeds in lieu and an appeal in property cases
Summary
Authority solicitor reported progress clearing title issues on multiple parcels, recorded a deed in lieu for one property, and said a zero-value board of view finding has been appealed and will be heard by Judge Piccinini.
The authority’s solicitor reported several property-law developments that the board said will remove obstacles to transfers and rehabilitation.
Solicitor Michael Sundberg (identified in the transcript as Mr. Sundberg) told the board that a title issue affecting the rehabilitation of 314 Walnut Street had been resolved so the property can be relinquished to the rightful heir on completion. He said the resolution required unraveling a multi-year title problem so future sale or transfer would be straightforward.
Sundberg said the authority recorded a deed in lieu of condemnation for 2631 Van Buren and expected that parcel to be removed from the authority’s pending list. He also reported work on 1012 and 1014 West Ninth Street (addresses cited in the solicitor’s report) where just compensation has been made and a deed filing was expected later in the week. The transcript contains one later reference that lists a similar acquisition with a different street-number phrasing (see clarifying details); staff were directed to complete deed recording and follow normal acquisition steps, including Phase I environmental review where required.
Sundberg also described progress on clearing an encumbrance that once tied to 933 East Fifth Street; he said an expired bond had been removed from courthouse records so title could be cleared. He reported an anticipated lien clearance on 2414 German Street and said he planned to remove an item from the authority’s active list once the steps were finished.
The solicitor told the board that a board-of-view hearing had returned a zero value on a specific parcel. That finding was appealed and a hearing before Judge Piccinini is scheduled; Sundberg said the appeal asserted the wrong measure of damages was used and he will prepare for the hearing. He said the appeal is a limited issue and expects the judge to review the measure-of-damages question.
The board also discussed inquiries from the county about acquiring lots the authority owns and noted a separate backup offer from a community group (referred to in the transcript as Erie Black Wall Street) to create a community park on a Land Bank lot. The board said county action would require the county to complete its own approval process before a purchase could be finalized.
Several property items discussed in the solicitor’s report are on the authority’s list for follow-up and deed recording, and staff said they will notify the board when those deeds are filed and Phase I reports are ready.
