LOCAL

2 Hornell 'problem properties' are set for demolition. See where and what's next for the lots

The Evening Tribune

Two “problem properties” in the City of Hornell will be erased from the landscape later this summer.

Homes at 179 Madison Avenue and 274 Walnut Street are destined for demolition after being acquired by the Steuben County Land Bank.

Mayor John Buckley, who sits on the board of the Land Bank, said the demolitions will likely occur in late August or early September. The Land Bank authorized the bids for demolition during its July meeting.

The property at 274 Walnut has been of particular concern for city officials. Classified as a two-family residential, the structure has long been abandoned and has large holes in its roof. It sits just down the street from the Hornell Area Family Resource Center in the old Columbian school at 25 Pearl Street.

“It’s been a negative force in the neighborhood for some time,” said Buckley.

This vacant structure at 274 Walnut Street in the City of Hornell is set for demolition by the Steuben County Land Bank.

Building codes have changed since the structure was built in 1865 and the Walnut Street lot is too small to redevelop with a new home. The lot will go up for sale after the 1,778-square-foot structure is demolished and the basement filled in. Such lots often draw interest from neighbors looking for some additional property. The Walnut Street structure is closely bordered by two other homes. The land is currently assessed at $9,000.

The single-family home at 179 Madison Avenue sits on a larger, .18-acre lot. The 942-square-foot home was built in 1890 and changed hands a handful of times since 2009 before being acquired by the Land Bank.

The Madison Avenue lot has been earmarked as the site of the next BOCES house, a partnership between the city and the school in which students construct new homes for vacant lots in Hornell. The city puts the homes out for bid, with the baseline price set at the cost of construction.

This vacant structure at 179 Madison Avenue in the City of Hornell is set for demolition by the Steuben County Land Bank. A new house constructed by BOCES students is planned for the lot.

BOCES students have constructed 11 homes through the program. The latest is on Preston Avenue, site of a devastating 2019 fire that led to the demolition of five structures. The BOCES homes are designed by DPW Assistant Superintendent Ashley Brown to fit each lot. The new Preston Avenue home is a single-story ranch, a style that’s in demand in a city dominated by multi-story dwellings.

Buckley, who works closely with the Codes office to identify candidates for the program, called two Land Bank demolitions in one year a “huge win” for Hornell. The lots will eventually return to the tax rolls and improve the city's housing stock.

“If at all possible, I try to target a demo candidate that can be redeveloped into a new house built by BOCES,” said the mayor. “The BOCES program has been great for the students, who not only get hands-on training but also make a lasting impact on our community.”

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The two Hornell properties were among six authorized for demolition at the Land Bank’s July meeting. Others include homes in Canisteo and Riverside, and two in Campbell. In addition to demolitions, the Land Bank also rehabilitates homes that haven’t deteriorated beyond repair.

A renovated two-bedroom home at 148 Terry St. in the city of Hornell went on the market in 2020 with a new roof, renovated windows, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, and an updated electrical system.

“The Land Bank has been very beneficial to Hornell and continues to make a positive impact in our neighborhoods in the city and around the county,” said Buckley.

Chris Potter can be reached at cpotter@gannett.com or on Twitter @ChrisPotter413. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.