The Steuben County Land Bank has acquired a blighted property at 8 O’Connor Ave. in the City of Hornell and plans to rehabilitate the structure into a single-family home, the city announced.
The property was acquired through the recent Steuben County Tax Foreclosure Auction. The project marks another collaboration between the city and the Steuben County Land Bank aimed at improving quality of life and revitalizing neighborhoods throughout Hornell.
In the past, some blighted Hornell properties acquired by the Land Bank have been demolished.
“This property acquisition is a little different as the plan is to rehabilitate the property,” said Hornell Mayor John Buckley. “This home is in a nice neighborhood, has a solid structure and off-street parking, and will add value to O’Connor Avenue. I would like to thank Chris Brewer, who leads the Land Bank, and all members of the team who continue to work with us to improve communities across the county, including Hornell.”
The two-story home was built in 1920 and has over 1,340 square feet of living space, according to county records. It will be placed on the market after renovations are completed.
“The Land Bank and our partners at Arbor Development are excited to get started on this rehabilitation project within the City of Hornell,” said Chris Brewer, Steuben Deputy County Manager and Executive Director of the Land Bank. “It is always nice to breathe new life into a property and be a part of its transformation from a vacant, run-down property to a beautiful new home.”
Properties acquired by the Land Bank are typically in poor condition, creating nuisance and blight for surrounding neighborhoods, noted the city. Once the Land Bank is able to assume ownership, it can move forward with demolishing unsafe structures or rehabilitating existing homes, ultimately returning parcels to productive use.
“Since 2018, the Land Bank has demolished seven properties in the City of Hornell and this will be the second rehabilitation project,” said Buckley, who sits on the Land Bank’s board. “This partnership has reduced blight, strengthened our neighborhoods, and created opportunities for new housing and revitalized properties.
“I appreciate the support provided to the City of Hornell by the Land Bank and look forward to the completion of this project, which will bring a high-quality, single-family home to O’Connor Avenue.”
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell home slated for rehabilitation through Land Bank, city partnership. Here’s where.
Reporting by Chris Potter, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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