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Erie redevelopment authority accepts two deeds, green-lights rehabilitation of 1320 Patterson and presses industrial-lot owners to decide
Summary
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority approved two property acquisitions, authorized rehabilitation of 1320 Patterson for future homeownership, and was told by its solicitor that owners of several industrial lots have cleaned and are marketing the sites but have not finalized agreements to remove blight designations.
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority voted to accept two property deeds and approved a plan to rehabilitate 1320 Patterson as a future single-family home.
Solicitor Jean (name on record) told the board several owners of industrial lots that had been declared blighted have recently cleaned the parcels and are testing the market instead of immediately conveying them to the authority, and she said the authority will press those owners to finalize their plans.
The board approved two resolutions to accept title to 629 West Tenth Street (a donation) and to accept a deed in lieu of condemnation for 750 East Thirteenth Street pending confirmation that First National Bank of Pennsylvania will satisfy its mortgage lien. The board then voted to proceed with a rehabilitation of 1320 Patterson that staff estimated would require roughly $120,000 in construction investment on top of about $20,000 already spent for initial stabilization and utilities.
Why it matters: The acquisitions and the Patterson rehabilitation are intended to return distressed properties to the market as affordable homeownership opportunities. The solicitor’s comments about the industrial lots indicate the authority is trying to prevent owners from indefinitely delaying transfer of blighted properties by “cleaning up” and marketing them without removing legal encumbrances or finalizing conveyance.
What the board did and discussed
- Property acquisitions: The board accepted a donated parcel at 629 West Tenth Street and agreed to accept a deed in lieu for 750 East Thirteenth Street once the lender files a satisfaction of mortgage. Solicitor Jean said First National Bank of Pennsylvania has indicated it will file a release of lien for the Thirteenth Street parcel; staff will not record conveyance until that is confirmed.
- 1320 Patterson rehabilitation: Staff described the Patterson property as structurally intact but cosmetically distressed (missing siding and a failing porch) and recommended the authority perform the work with authority-managed contracting. Staff estimated total authority investment including acquisition, prevailing-wage construction and legal costs at about $120,000 beyond roughly $20,000 already spent for electrical service, cleanout and site work; a land-bank realtor estimated an eventual market resale value of about $175,000–$180,000. The board voted to proceed with the authority-led rehabilitation and later offer the house for owner-occupant sale.
- Industrial lots and blight: Solicitor Jean said attorneys for the corporate owners have recently arranged for lot cleanups and are discussing marketing plans. “Just because you’re cleaning up the lot doesn’t mean that it’s gonna change what our offer is,” Jean told the board, adding she will press the owners’ counsel for a schedule and will not let the matter be “slow-walked.” Jean said the authority has filed or is preparing declarations of taking for several parcels and that condemnation remains an option but would require outside funding for just compensation.
- Subdivision at Ninth and Cherry: Staff and adjoining property owners are coordinating a small subdivision of a former house lot (known locally as the AJ Adams parcel) so adjoining owners can purchase side yards; survey quotes will be split and deeds combined once surveying and recording are complete.
Votes and formal action
- The board passed the two property acquisition resolutions (629 West Tenth Street; 750 East Thirteenth Street) and recorded the motion as adopted.
- The board voted to proceed with the rehabilitation of 1320 Patterson as an authority-managed renovation and to market the finished property for single-family owner-occupancy.
Discussion and next steps
Solicitor Jean said she will continue to press owners and their counsel on the industrial lots to disclose marketing plans or finalize conveyance; if owners pursue marketing instead of conveyance, the blight designation will remain in place and the authority’s appraisal and offer will stand. Staff will wait to record title for the East Thirteenth Street conveyance until the mortgage satisfaction is filed. Staff will return to the board with final budgets and contract documents for the Patterson rehabilitation and with subdivision and deed documents for the Ninth/Cherry parcels.
The board’s motions on these items passed by voice vote.
