Syracuse Board of Assessment Review hears grievances on dozens of properties; many tied to ongoing litigation

The Syracuse Board of Assessment Review heard extended presentations from property owners, lawyers and city staff about tentative property assessments on dozens of parcels across the city, including retail sites, apartment complexes and vacant lots. Petitioners supplied leases, income-and-expense statements, CoStar/LoopNet reports and sale information and asked the board to lower tentative assessments; city staff and counsel said some cases are in litigation and others can be resolved through additional data or negotiation.

The hearing covered many properties grouped by ownership or similarity. Two AutoZone retail sites were among the first cases discussed: 3068 Erie Boulevard East (owner listed in the record as Rockland ET LLC) had a tentative full assessed value the petitioner described as $650,000 (land value $292,500); the petitioner argued the fair market value is substantially lower (owner estimate provided). A second AutoZone at 1900 Grama Boulevard carried a tentative full assessed value the petitioner listed at $920,000 (land value reported at $277,825); counsel for the property told the board the matter had been the subject of litigation, was settled last year, and the petitioner asked that the record be dismissed with prejudice (the…