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Committee backs declaring two Boston Street condos surplus under Home Equity Theft Protection Act
Summary
The Lawrence Housing Committee recommended that the full City Council declare two adjacent condos at 15A and 15B Boston Street surplus under the Home Equity Theft Protection Act and forward them for sale through the new appraisal/broker process; staff said owner outreach and procurement are near completion.
The Lawrence Housing Committee on Feb. 9 voted to send a favorable recommendation to the full City Council to declare two adjacent condominium units at 15A and 15B Boston Street surplus under the Home Equity Theft Protection Act.
City staff described both parcels as 1,110-square-foot condo lots in an R-2 zone with identical assessed values of $249,300 and annual tax estimates of about $2,193.84. Staff asked the committee to decide whether the city should retain or sell the properties so the city can meet statutorily required timetables and notify the court handling the tax-foreclosure matters.
City Attorney Tim Hooten told the committee that the law requires municipalities to protect a homeowner’s equity after tax foreclosure by using appraisals and independent broker processes instead of prior informal procedures. Hooten said staff has mailed multiple notices to the owner and that the city has limited use for a pair of condos, making sale the likely disposition. “We have sent this owner many letters,” Hooten said, adding staff recently asked for proof of hazard insurance because the property is now a city liability.
Councillors pressed staff for evidence of outreach (dates, methods, and whether in-language notices were sent), and for procurement documents for an appraiser and real-estate broker. Procurement staff said nine responses to the recent realtor RFP were initially responsive, four firms remain under final review and the appraiser selection is near finalization. Committee members asked that the RFP materials and the record of owner contacts be attached to the council packet so the full council can review staff’s due diligence before a disposition vote.
Councilor Mark LaPlante made the motion to forward the surplus declarations for both 15A and 15B Boston Street with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Next steps: the items will appear on the full City Council agenda for final disposition. Staff said they expect to have the appraiser and realtor selections more advanced by that meeting and will include requested outreach documentation in the packet.
