CITY OF LOCKPORT, N.Y. -- It's a unique property in the City of Lockport's annual tax foreclosure auction; bids for the home at 62 Hillcrest Drive will be accepted from those willing to buy it and move in.
"It is an idea that we basically stole from Niagara Falls, and something that we wanted to emulate here, and that's basically prioritizing home ownership," said Brian Smith, Planning & Development Director for the city. "If there's someone willing to do it, then they'll have the opportunity to take the house and live in it and basically obtain it for a price where they only have to bid against other people willing to make the same investment."
"We're giving you nine months to make any corrections and after that nine months, once you get your occupancy certificate, you will have three years from that date to live in that property," said Sue Mawhiney, the city's Treasurer.
This is one of many ways the city is trying to fill more than 100 abandoned homes. It comes after a first-time homebuyer program that provided money for closing costs and part of a down payment ended, and Smith hopes interest from that program will carry over.
"One of the reasons why I thought a home ownership auction could be really successful here is because we have a long waiting list for people to go through that program," he said. "So we know there's a demand for people that want to live here, how can we find more ways to make that happen?"
Bidding for 62 Hillcrest will start at $5,000. If the effort is successful this year, the goal is to continue it in future auctions.
No matter how the homes are auctioned off, Mawhiney says it's an important event for Lockport.
"The city has had some financial difficulties so this would help us out to get these paid off and into new home owners' hands so they will start paying the taxes."
The auction will take place Tuesday at the Lockport Municipal Building. Registration is at 5 p.m and at 6 p.m., the event begins.