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Council approves Wallace Street discontinuance; developer cites illegal dumping and housing plans
Summary
Council approved discontinuance of a 6,000‑sq‑ft paper‑street parcel on Wallace Street after a developer said the unused lot suffers illegal dumping and could be used for housing or parking; council debated abutter notification and whether the city should auction such land.
Jelani Bland, representing Jeff's Property Development, petitioned the council to discontinue a 6,000‑square‑foot paper‑street parcel on Wallace Street that he said is currently a dumping ground and drags down neighboring property values. Bland said his firm plans to develop the adjacent lot and that, if the discontinuance is finalized, abutters would receive half the discontinued land by deed and could sell or transfer it later.
Councilors asked about notification of abutters, environmental impacts and the city’s process for discontinuance. Hector Velez (DPW) explained that the city notifies abutters and utilities, runs legal advertising, and holds on‑site meetings with the Board of Public Works; if the street is discontinued, title typically vests to abutters who then may record deeds. Attorney Shay said the city faces no legal exposure from approving the discontinuance; the neighboring abutter would have an opportunity to claim half the land under standard process.
Some councilors urged caution and suggested soliciting neighborhood input or auctioning municipally owned land for highest taxpayer return; others said the parcel is blighted and that converting it to taxable private property would be beneficial. The council approved the discontinuance by roll-call vote at the meeting.
