The Board of Assessment Review.

Today is Thursday, February twelfth.

And it's uh almost nine fifteen.

We just had a have a little meeting outside, so apologize for the delay.

Just want to remind everyone that uh these meetings are recorded and also are live on YouTube, and they can be viewed at a later date as well.

Um, if you want to go back to uh the meeting.

So with that, let's have a roll call.

My name is Joe Saya.

Okay, thank you.

Are these uh all individuals?

One two one, okay.

Okay, if you want to come out right up here, sure.

Good, good, thank you.

Yeah, if you can speak right into that, that's perfect, just like you did.

Um, so you're here for one thirty-three West Pleasant Ave.

And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna swear you in.

I'm also gonna swear Ann in um uh as this is the first hearing of the day.

And uh uh we'll go from there.

So if you can raise your right hand.

Okay.

Uh state your name for the record.

Charles Matlaw.

Okay.

You both uh firm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

Yes.

Okay, very good.

All right, so let's take this one first.

Again, 133 West Pleasant Avenue.

Um this is a not-for-profit.

So so you're uh here uh uh for an exemption.

Okay.

Um so this is a vacant lot.

Uh uh let me just get some pertinent numbers here.

We don't have a lot of people.

It's not the process that's it, that's all we need.

Okay, very good.

Um so we have a current tentative assessed value of four thousand dollars with a land value of four thousand dollars, and the petitioner believes that the fair market value is four thousand dollars.

Again, this is a full exemption uh request.

Um so with that, what how how is this property used to warrant an exemption?

Uh so uh purchased the property in September from the land bank for a dollar.

Um, and the reason why they sold me uh the lot was because uh building out a community garden uh for uh McKinley Brighton that's across the street from uh the lot.

And so that's my program, the Soar and Growth Scholar Program, and what we do is we generally teach the community the importance of knowing where your food comes from, uh local farmers, partnerships, those type of things.

And so I've gotten funding to actually build out the community garden, and it took me a year uh going back and forth with the land bank for them to sell me the property so that I can build the community garden and have a spigot install.

Um so yeah, I'm not gonna make any money out the property.

Uh as a community garden for the school and the houses uh around the school.

Um, and um, yeah, I guess if I'm forced to pay taxes, I'm gonna have to give it back to the land bank because like four thousand dollars a year isn't sustainable uh yeah for me as an organization.

You wouldn't be paying four thousand dollars in taxes.

Okay, right.

What do you what's the approximate on that?

That that's that's what the that's that's the uh value uh that's the assessed value that the city puts uh uh on the property.

So maybe so the taxes on that would be a couple hundred dollars.

It's neither here nor there, but I just didn't want to think you have to pay four thousand dollars every year.

It'll it'd be closer to probably four, because the sidewalk charges a hundred.

So the taxes are about a hundred and sixty in the sidewalk is and any special charges, so it would be closer to maybe four hundred, give or take.

So again, I'm just giving you that information.

Um I know you still want to follow through on the exemption, but it's not you know astronomical, or for some reason it doesn't work out as far as the exemption is concerned.

Um so if I could ask you purchased the lot.

It looked you purchased the lot on August 7th of 2025.

Yes.

That's when you closed on it and you paid cash for the lot.

Okay.

Um and you're you're so uh was the garden started last year or uh so the construction hasn't actually started yet, so I'm getting all the paperwork out done before I actually move forward.

So uh the reason why the land bank saw me the land is because I want to get a water spigot install.

Uh and so going through this process, getting the land and taxes done.

Really not good.

But yeah, that's kind of like the the hole that I'm running into is um trying to get the paperwork done so that I can move forward uh with the garden because it has been like a two-year process to get to this point.

Okay.

And so uh the decision will be made and then the city will send you a notice first week of April.

Um then is that gonna be enough time for you to get this thing up and running this year.

Oh, yes, I most definitely get it running this year.

Okay.

All right.

If I can ask the community garden, so is it the s you said McKinley Brighton school?

Is are the kids gonna who who is going to use this community garden?

Uh and is there a charge like do they just come in and plant whatever and do they have to pay, you know, like is there a charge for a uh raised bed?

Uh so no charge and uh part of ideally what's gonna happen is I'd run a morning school uh morning program at McKinley Brighton, where I teach the kids.

You do where I teach the kids how to grow indoors, and so the garden will be an extension of that.

But also uh my goal is to involve the neighbors around the garden so that they can participate.

Nobody's paying any money, I'm not collecting any money, just uh educating people about how to grow their own food and kind of like this is my first community garden.

Uh I'm working with St.

Kofa uh down the street to build out their community garden, so building out a network of community gardens to kind of work together uh alongside each other is to go.

And do who so to get the spigot there, do you have to run go through the city for them to run a water line?

Uh so I'm gonna say uh actually I haven't gotten that far be uh when I was going through this process be f I was working with the deputy mayor, and I don't know who she talked to, but whoever she talked to at all the places that she needed to talk to.

Uh she did uh the CD say they were gonna give me permission to have a water spigot installed.

And so uh I have permission uh to have the water speaking installed from all parties that need to give me permission to, and so like this is just me trying to finalize everything.

And uh let's say you don't get the water installed, then how is it gonna be watered?

Oh, okay.

So uh the other option is which I technically don't like.

So there's a fire hydrant that's almost 200.

We're about 150 feet away from their location, so the backup plan will actually be to use the fire hydrant uh that's down the street and we'll fill up uh uh big uh barrels with the water.

And I'm gonna say the same thing with the speaker, I just want the kind of the convenience of it, so it would actually be locked when they're not in use, but we will use to fill up the uh rain barrels around the garden and stuff like that.

Did you say this was your first garden or you've done others?

Uh this is I guess my first garden on my own.

I build gardens for uh rise uh as the urban agricultural or coordinator for them.

Okay.

Okay.

How many plots will there be?

Uh it was gonna be ten uh raised base, ten, four by eight, three feet tall, so uh eight feet wide, you know, eight feet long, four feet wide, and three feet tall, so people don't have to bend over the garden.

Anything you want to say.

I think I gotta review it a little closer because I didn't I needed some more specifics about um well this was he had applied, this was a denial and uh Yeah, just cause I wasn't you know, I needed some more specifics.

So um I may have a rec I I will have a recommendation.

I just now that I have a little bit more information.

I'm not uh a hundred percent sure it goes along with the real property tax law, but I may have to s check some some cases.

Some opinions.

That's fine.

That's that's fair.

Um and uh okay, so we've heard from yourself.

We appreciate you coming in today.

Um we've also heard from the city, and it sounds like they want to do a little more checking.

Um so in that regard, uh uh then they'll get to us, we'll make a decision, and the city will send you a notice first week of April.

Um sounds like a nice idea and certainly appreciate uh uh what you would be doing there.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Okay, 109 Bird Street.

The next two are together.

The next two are together, okay.

Are we?

Uh so you have 109 Bird Street and 908-12 Montgomery Street.

Correct.

Uh okay.

Um let me swear you in.

If you could raise your right hand, state your name for the record.

Jennifer Bowden.

You affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

I do.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

So you're here for two properties, 109 Bird Street, 908-12 Montgomery Street.

Um is there any particular order that you would want these in?

Uh no, one is vacant land and one is more of a warehouse type structure.

So it doesn't really matter.

Okay.

All right.

Then uh on the order of the list, uh let's go with 109 Bird Street.

Let me just uh uh read it into the record.

And this is an exemption uh request.

Correct.

Okay, so this is uh a commercial piece uh warehouse uh is the property.

Earth Street's the land, the vacant lot.

And then the uh the nine oh eight is the warehouse.

Okay.

Um here it has uh the warehouse, but uh no worries.

Uh one oh nine, this is for one oh nine Bert Street.

All right, so this is the vacant lot.

Do we have the right exemption?

Uh okay.

Um current tentative assessed value twenty-nine thousand with a land value of twenty-nine thousand.

Uh petitioner believes the fair market value is fifty thousand four hundred and thirty-five uh dollars as per the twenty twenty-five tax assessment.

Okay.

Um this is a vacant lot.

And uh what is the situation?

Was this a a new application or a denial?

Denial.

A new denial.

A new a new denial, okay.

Yes.

So Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation is a non-for-profit profit corporation that um it has but was created in 1953 to support SUNY Morrisville.

So to do that, um one of those things that we support is the uh educational opportunity center in Syracuse.

And they needed this uh in 2018.

They wanted this property purchased at the time for a parking lot.

They were going to do a parking lot when they renovated their new building at the EOC Center.

And um since then they are not needing that parking lot, but they are using the warehouse for classes.

Um and they have classes there, construction classes, um, some sort of gardening woodworking classes as well.

Um so that's why we're looking for the exemption as a non-for-profit.

But they're not using this.

The bacon the land's just vacant.

It's it's right next to the property, but we don't do anything with it.

It just came with the piece that we bought together.

The two parcels.

Um so again, uh uh the vacant lot is not being used for any non-for-profit purposes.

Correct.

It's just there.

Okay.

I have a question.

So the property currently is in the name of Morrisville Auxiliary.

Correct.

But the the paperwork that was um part of the paperwork that was uh given to us still says, I mean, the old not the old articles of incorporation still say uh State University Agriculture and Technical Institute at Morrisville.

So it doesn't is there a reason?

Yes why the property went into the auxiliary and not the correct.

So if you look at the uh paperwork, um there's a name change on that paperwork.

Okay.

Um and it changed in uh I don't even know the date a long time ago.

Um to the current name that we are.

Okay.

So that's in the paperwork.

Yeah.

That's uh after that that you have in your hand.

It looks like this.

Okay.

Can I get down there and take a look at it?

Of course, yes.

Anytime.

And has anybody from my office looked at it yet?

Do you think that's a good one?

I don't believe so, no.

Um we would put you in touch with the uh equal opportunity center, Tim Pennix is the one who manages the property.

Um and I could give you his cell phone and he could bring you down to the property.

Are you talking about the lot?

No, the the building itself.

Oh, all right.

The lot you could have as well.

Yeah, you can see that any time as well.

It's right next door.

No, I know that what I was getting at is we're just doing probably should read this in.

Yeah.

Uh okay, let me do that.

Let me read this uh warehouse in.

And uh since we're speaking about uh 908-12 uh Montgomery Street.

Uh this is the warehouse uh current tentative assessed value 122,000 with a land value of 89,000, and uh the petitioners uh uh estimate of fair market value is two hundred and twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-four dollars uh as of the twenty twenty-five tax assessment.

Okay, so this is used for the education of the students at the center.

Um and how often is it used?

Uh every day of the week.

Every day of the week.

Well, not Saturday, Sunday, Monday through Friday.

Monday through Friday.

Okay, very good.

Um that was and you I assume you were looking for more information uh this.

Yeah, I just yes, I want to take a walk through it.

I'll call get me Tim's you know, and then I'll just at the moment do you want me to email you his information?

I have email okay.

Okay.

Yeah, I don't believe there'll be a problem with with at least the warehouse.

I mean if we're not using the lot, then that's speaks for itself.

But I I'd like to take a walk through it.

Yeah, no, I completely agree with uh both of the things that you just said.

Okay.

Um so you know, if you're not using the lot, yeah, that makes sense.

Yeah.

Um, but uh five days a week is great as far as the warehouse is concerned.

Um so with that, anything else you want to add?

I don't think so.

It's an interesting operation when you see what they've kind of done with the space.

They've had students renovate the space, so the construction classes went in and built an office or classrooms, that kind of stuff in there.

So it's really cool.

So yes.

Maybe I'll go with you.

I'll invite you over.

Yeah.

Just one question.

Is there any other use of the warehouse?

Uh no.

They uh they store stuff in there upstairs, but it's all for the center because the center is in a big renovation on New Street right now, so they store a lot of stuff there as well.

Yes, beautiful.

Thank you so much.

Yes, thanks for coming in.

And uh we'll uh city will send you two separate notices first week of April.

One for each parcel?

Yes.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Okay, 830 James Street.

Yes.

We can get you out of check.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, Bill, this one, me to be in the center.

Can they all fit the star just and actually I think we can move those back?

Thanks.

Yeah, we can look at microphone too.

Excuse me.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, so this is 830 James Street, Helio Health.

Uh okay, if I could just swear everybody in if you could raise your right hands, state your name for the record.

Robert Seigart.

Consuelo Lickstein.

Brethren Marine.

Do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Um, so let me just leave read the property in.

This is a a full exemption uh issue.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Um this is 830 James Street.

This is a residential buildings, uh care home.

Uh current tenant of assessed value, 2,700,000 with a land value of 700,000.

Uh and we don't have uh uh given the exemption uh request no estimate of fair market value.

Okay.

Let me just uh go through here.

Okay, so we'll go through this information.

Let me turn it over to you for now, and we'll go from there.

Sure, no problem.

Um I serve as general counsel for helio health, and Mr.

Seigart was the architect is the architect who's been doing the work on the property, so he's here to answer any questions that you have about the current um use of the property as far as the percentage of the property that's being occupied and used by residents and staff.

And Mr.

Maureen is a partner at Newman and Linkstein, his firm um did the work as it relates to the purchase and also advised us as we prepared this application.

And we're here simply to ask that the city reconsider the denial because um at least 49% of the property is currently being occupied and used by residents and staff solely for not-for-profit purposes.

Um Mr.

Seigart, um, his team did the calculations and the measurements.

Um in fact he did bring with him today, and I realized that we needed to submit this before this morning, so I want to say that and I apologize.

But he did bring with him today just an image and I can submit it afterwards if you'd like, and I can have just to show the color, the blue color shows how much of it is occupied versus not occupied.

So I defer to him as to how they measured it because I couldn't tell you the first thing about measuring properties.

That's fine, but yes, definitely would like that submitted.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

For those that are in this is the old hearth, correct?

Correct.

Just so you have a visual.

I was trying to figure out the number, but uh okay.

So that uh what okay, so 49.7 is used uh for helio health currently current currently and yes, and so um there's additional work that's being done before we can move in the remainder of the residents.

We do plan to have it fully occupied before the end of this calendar year.

Um my understanding is that in or around November, and I'm being conservative, it could be sooner, but that's my best.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

No, no, that that's correct.

We're we're I mean we're we've almost got the phase two drawings uh completed, and it'll be bid out, and then we'll construct uh over the summer into the fall.

Uh everything that you're presenting is how it was as of January 1.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, as far as the the drawing that we the calculations that we did and the drawing that we did that is just a graphic to show which areas are occupied and which areas are not.

I think that's the I'd like to take a walk through it.

I'd love to have it.

Sure.

Um that the other what so what you're saying is that other 49% has been already remodeled or at rehab from the time of your purchase.

And now we're going to do the other half by the end of the year, basically.

And to have people actually living there by the end of the year.

Yeah, uh again, another situation where I'd like to just take a walk through it.

If you're the board, love to have you.

You know.

Yeah, and or for availability.

Uh uh I mean, I don't see foresee a problem, but I do like to just get my eyes on it.

Sure.

Please let me know and I'll make it happen.

I have the contact information.

So would it be you or what is it gonna be somebody?

Okay.

I'll go, I'll go.

Is it possible to uh or do you want a copy made of that?

I can leave this with you, or about what you bring.

I I brought another copy.

I have two copies, so uh that would be great file that okay, good.

Okay, good.

And I'm happy to email these to Anne in PDF form if that's helpful too.

Whatever is easier for you off.

I think that would be if you would you like that, Anne?

Yes, please.

Okay.

Yeah, that would be helpful as well.

Anything you want to add?

Not at this time.

Hold it.

We the closing took place in the middle of July of 2025.

That's it.

It's it's not a nursing home, but it is a residence that is virtually the same type of living arrangement as a nursing home.

But we're actually certified by New York State to provide a different service than for the aging.

I think as far as the city is concerned, it it's a care home, and the the actual occupancy of it as far as the the building code is concerned, is the same as it was before when it was considered assisted living.

No.

Yeah, that was a um uh I was not aware of that uh purchase.

That that's an awesome purchase.

So you guys uh behalf and uh great mission as well.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

Uh okay, so you're gonna reach out to them and and uh maybe let us know on the walk through if you'd like to join.

Yeah, and um then uh uh city will send you a notice first week of April.

Okay, that sounds wonderful.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

Great project.

Thanks.

Thank you.

It's a great building too.

I've been to my mother worked there for a little bit, uh, receptionist and what have you.

And uh it's a beautiful building.

We we designed that originally in 1999.

Okay.

That's that's why we have very good records.

Yes.

Yeah, it's a it's a great facility.

Okay, have a good day.

I didn't either.

I'll have to tell my mother.

Okay.

These are uh separate.

Uh 205 West Newell Street.

Uh no, that person is not here.

How are you?

This is very difficult, although my voice does carry to be able to eyeball all of you.

A little hard to do, but I'll do the best I can.

It's okay.

Um we'll look at you, but you don't have to look at all of that.

Okay.

Uh I'm gonna swear you in in one minute.

Take your time.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, so this is 205 West Newell Street, uh, not for profit.

Um if you could just raise your right hand and state your name for the record.

Vicky K.

Hammer.

You affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

Yes, I do.

Okay, thank you.

Uh okay, let me just read in a few things here.

Thank you for the information that you submitted.

205 West Newell Street.

Uh this is a white two-story house with garage.

Uh current tentative assessed value, 40,000.

Uh yes.

And uh don't have a land value, but that's okay, and no uh estimate of uh fair market value from the petitioner.

Uh let's just see.

Okay, so I just have the application, although you submitted some information, so we'll take a look at that.

And uh let me just turn it over to you and uh uh you can tell us a little bit about um uh uh this property and the uh ministry.

We are a nonprofit 501c3, and the Lord gave me the vision uh in 2015 by 2018, uh the ministry had purchased a uh a house 205 West Newell.

Um prior to that the ministry was working out of Greater Love in Christ Church, uh the corner of Midland and uh Lafayette, um which my husband and I were members of and uh we began we bought the house by the way from the land bank, and we began all of the uh fixing and making it ready to pass code, and while we were doing that, we brought some young men sixteen, eighteen, twenty in to assist the professionals in doing the work, and uh with that all accomplished, uh we had several successes of the young man joining uh programs, and two of them are now working at the Jewish home on Genesee Street, full-time jobs and uh tax payers, praise the Lord.

And this is what our ministry is about.

We want to reach out to whatever program the Lord puts and makes available to us.

Um we pay for our property, we've we own the ministry house, we own uh uh two large trailers, and we own a cargo van.

Um and we have a young man that's been working for us for several years, and he and I would go out and do clean outs for a local um property manager, and they pay us for the job, and while I'm in there, I remove all of the items that are in good shape that are gently used, and that could be used by wash it, clean it, sanitize it.

We rented a larger space in the meantime from Greater Love in Christ Church, and by the way, I need you to know that we have gone through the COVID, and we did not fold, we stayed in the black because we continue doing the cleanups.

Um, and then we begin to having to rent two storage units for all of the stuff that the Lord has given us that is not going into the land bank.

And not only that, but we will have our thrift shop open, which is out of Greater Love in Christ Church.

Um we sell the items for a very very small amount.

So we have got a lot of uh walk-in people from the south side, a lot of uh non-Americans that walk into this property, walks into the church, not Greater Love and Christ Church.

I mean uh the ministry house.

So let's let's focus on the the property.

Okay.

Um the property it right now we are not take doing any actual ministries out of the house because we've been taking so much time with the thrift shop, but also uh we have a full room, which is my office, uh the dining room is shared.

We have a uh uh uh uh house.

With the young person that is uh staying in the house, taking care of the property, doing our lawn, doing the hedges, keeping the uh fence trimmed, keeping everything uh shoveled as need be, keeping the house safe and keeping it in beautiful shape.

So I'm very very happy with the person and uh it covers the utilities, and um so she doesn't have to pay utilities.

So she pays a very small amount, and that includes the utilities, which is um eight hundred and sixty dollars a month.

Wow, that's not too small.

It's not too big either.

I it's not too big.

I was a landlord, trust me.

If I had kept my properties before COVID, instead of getting $650 a month, I'd be getting 1,200 a month.

That's a huge amount of difference.

Um and like I said, with that, she is a complete upstairs to herself.

We do not bother her, we take any of the property.

Your usage uh of the property is uh an office in the building.

An office shared, or I was a square footage of that office properly old houses eight by nine.

I would say yes.

What's the square footage of the whole property?

That I cannot tell you.

I am sorry.

I didn't have that paperwork with me.

We have that out?

All right.

So less than a hundred square feet on the office.

We use the dining room for meetings.

We use the kitchen and we have uh part of the cupboard.

1800 square feet.

And you use the dining room for meetings.

How often do you meet?

Once a month.

Once a month.

Yes.

All right, so 12 times a year.

Yes, unless something else comes up, or that we have a program.

We have a summer, we invite the neighborhood to come out.

The yard is fenced in.

We set up children's games.

The neighborhood comes in and uh they win prizes, and we hope that we can sign them up for uh future programs.

Okay.

And how how how many days a year do you think that takes place?

Roughly.

Four days.

Yes.

Well, more than that, because you're talking about all the prepping and bringing all the things that you need into the house and uh, you know, and keep it there until we're ready to put it out.

So I would maybe 12 days.

Okay.

So maybe uh uh one month out of the year uh would take care of the usage, uh it sounds like at this point, and we also have the complete basement that the ministry uses or storage.

We have um games and uh uh art stuff, what are they what do you call that?

Arts and crafts.

We've got sewing, we've got sewing machines.

Uh the Lord has provided us with so much stuff that we can use for upcoming programs.

Uh the Lord has just closed the door with a thrift shop because the church has been sold.

So we're in the process of moving out, having huge sales.

So if you know then know any families or programs that can use stuff for very, very, very cheaply.

Um send them down.

We're gonna be open hopefully to the end of March.

We should be out of there uh every Saturday between 12 and 2 was the only time that we're gonna cap it open.

Um when we're out of there and we're in the process of looking for another building.

The initial vision was to have a ministry house within walking distance of every school in the city.

Well, that comes with money, we didn't have that much money, weren't able to reach out for grants, uh, we didn't have that quality or this qualification.

Now we do.

Um, I hope.

So we're gonna be looking for another building uh within walking distance of another school.

The current uh ministry house is right next to a school.

And when we get this new building, and we're praying for a large one, one of these big old houses.

We don't care if it needs work, just needs good phones, hopefully not a plumbing or electrical.

Uh the Lord will lead us to the proper building.

Uh but um we will again bring younger people.

Uh we know a lot of contractors and professionals that has worked with us in the past.

Um just let me put you on hold for a second.

Okay.

Um anything you want to add?

Was this a denial?

Yes.

Um, yeah, just I mean, if we want to re-examine the percentage, but somebody's living there paying a decent rent.

So I get it, it's it's to make sure nothing happens to the property, but well, that and the fact that it's paying the taxes, the utilities, the water bill, um, the insurance bill, it actually pays for itself, which does not put a strain on the rest of the ministry, which does not make it.

You get that in do you have an income and expense where what comes in and what goes out as far as to show that it's then I did not bring that.

I didn't realize I would need it, but I can pay.

You do have it.

Yeah, I would I would like to see that.

We do have uh we pay the taxes.

Um we have to uh keep under 50,000.

So we do not make over 50,000, and the thrift shop does not make us a penny.

We give them way more than what comes in, and we pay for young helpers, okay, which we teach how to get a job and how to keep a job as they're working with us.

Okay.

Um we do plan on expanding, but it's one building, and my concern also is if we are considered not tax exempt or our main building where we're going to have meetings and when we're where we interview people and so on and so forth.

And my concern also is if we are considered ta not tax exempt for our main building where we're going to have meetings and one where where we interview people and so on and so forth.

We've just not been doing that for the past three years because I have been going through a very unpleasant uh physical issue.

Uh a help replacement, then I fell and fractured the hip replacement.

So it's been the last three years.

I've not really been able to get around much.

So keeping the thrift shop going was about the only thing that I physically has been able to do.

But I'm not even working with a cane, walking with the cane right now, so I praise the Lord for that.

Anyway, we will be moving forward.

And I give this to you guys because I would like to ask all cities help.

I am an employed city of Syracuse.

Uh uh the first hired crew leader in the city of Syracuse.

And I owned properties in Syracuse and uh have my husband is a retired firefighter from Syracuse.

Uh not that I'm trying to get pointers here, but if you guys know people that could join us and might have this type of vision, okay, we need volunteers and we need people that would like to set up, step up and lead different programs.

So my time is up.

Yes, uh to put it nicely.

Um we try to allot 10 minutes per uh um, but no, it definitely appreciate all the information on the I appreciate all of this.

Is this by his spirits ministry dot seven?

Is that not yes, and and Christy no longer is with us, unfortunately.

I just did not cross her off the card.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

Is that still the email though?

By his ministry.

Yes, okay.

So I can email you so you'll have my email to send me that income and expense date.

Uh it would be better.

Okay.

Thank you.

To s to send it to my husband's please.

Um it is I am faster.

I am F-A-S-T-E-R at AOL.com.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

And then that way you'll have my to send me that income and expense.

Perfect.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you for coming in.

The city will send you a notice first week of April.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

God bless.

Thank you.

Uh okay.

So we have 601 Irving Ave.

Okay.

How are you?

I'm good.

Good.

Okay.

Okay.

So let's see what we got.

Okay.

Uh so you're here for 601 Irving Ave.

This is a not-for-profit.

Correct.

Uh if you could just raise your right hand, state your name for the record.

Dolores Rogers.

Do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

I do.

Okay, thank you.

Um this is uh 601 Irving Av.

This is a church.

Correct.

Uh current tentative assessed value, $300,000 with a land value of $242,000.

Uh petitioner believes the uh fair market value of the property is $480,000 as a full exemption.

Yes.

Uh request.

Um excuse me for one second.

Let me go back to the prior one just for a second.

Was that um uh was that a denial?

Was that um uh a first request?

No.

No.

We denied it the year before.

Denied it also the year before, um, so it's never been tax exempt uh currently, as far as you know.

I have to verify that.

Okay.

I'm not sure.

Okay.

It was denied uh two years ago last year.

Uh and here we are.

Okay, good.

Um just wanted to clarify.

Uh kind of the same with the current a little bit.

A little bit.

With this, oh with this one here, okay.

Yeah, we were denied last year.

Uh we're selling the building.

Yes, and we were remembered.

We we were denied and then we were granted after I came in.

Right.

Okay.

Okay.

After I came in, you approved it to say as tax exempted.

And then this year I filed again and got the denial to come in.

Okay.

All right.

And so I've got a purchase of about 190,000 in 2003, it looks like I think it's it's either a three or a five, but regardless.

Yeah, that's okay.

And uh so then we have uh May 30th of 2025.

We got a sales contract.

You I have a contract.

You have a contract.

I have a contract.

We're waiting for the attorney general to approve the sale so that we can move on out.

But until then, we are still having services in the building.

We meet three times a week.

All right, so you got a contract uh in December of No, that was when it was appraised.

When did you uh give it away?

May 31st they signed the contract.

I think that's the first time.

May 31st of 2025.

Yes.

Okay.

And so you don't know when it's supposed to close because the attorney general has to approve.

Right.

We're still waiting on the attorney general.

Yes, he keeps asking for more information.

Okay.

So we just sent him as uh in January last year's financial report, which I hope is the last thing he needs.

Okay.

Who's he?

I don't know.

My lawyer is working with him.

Okay.

I know it's somebody local that they did not go down to New York City, according to my attorney.

Okay.

But that's all I know.

Okay.

Uh okay.

So Anne.

If if they're still in there, um you said you're you said you're having services still.

We we meet three times a week.

My husband's there four times a week.

Okay.

All right.

So that certainly uh uh stands the test of usage.

Right.

Uh and um okay.

Uh and you just weren't aware of the updates.

Correct.

And then um the the sales contract if I is it another not-for-profit.

I do not I am not sure of that.

It is a Jewish community, but I they tried to ask us if they could if we could hand over our non-for-profit when they doesn't quite work.

It doesn't work that way, is what we told them.

So that's been their ballpark with their attorney.

Not not your primary.

Not my problem.

Right.

Right.

They do want to keep it as a synagogue, but there's also talk of wanting to turn the downstairs into a kosher cafe.

So I don't know what they're gonna actually do with it.

Got it.

Okay.

Um they're hoping to serve the Israeli um Jewish community that's working it upstate.

Got it.

Okay.

I'm all set with that one.

Very good.

Okay.

We're good?

Yes, we're good.

Another year.

Okay.

And next year.

Between you selling and me retiring, we're good.

Oh, there you go.

I'll meet you at the deli.

Okay.

Thanks for coming in.

You're welcome.

So happen next and then next one.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Okay.

127 West Brighton Ave.

Good morning.

How are you?

Okay, so you're here for 127 West Brighton Ave.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Um, if you could both raise your right hands.

State your name for the record.

Secure.

Do firm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

Okay.

And trying to remember.

I I had the prior state or name, I think, hopefully.

Yeah.

I didn't know.

I had her state her name.

Okay, thank you.

Um, so let me just read this in.

This is a uh 127 West Brighton Avenue, uh religious community center.

Um current tentative assessed value, $54,000.

Um nothing on the land value.

Uh petitioner believes the fair market value is $54,000 as well.

Um this is a full exemption uh request.

Uh was it uh it was a denial?

Because I have a couple questions, but if you want to do your thing and I can be I can go right to the to the issue.

By all means.

So we were here last year, right?

Yes.

So are there four apartments there?

Well, in terms of rooms, I guess really.

Okay, but you but it they're not rented, correct?

You use the whole house as part of your ministry.

Okay.

I guess that's what where I I um because are you fixing it, or you fix the porch or something, right?

Yeah, yeah, the front which got fixed.

Okay.

And then, but as far as so there's four, there is four kitchens in it, but no, no, no, no.

Only one kitchen.

Okay.

That's all right.

Cause I try I I didn't codes, I tried to check with code, so there's only one kitchen.

Yes.

And are there, I guess that where my problem is, I just because I don't want you to be able to be able to easily turn it into four apartments and start getting rent, but there's just one kitchen in there.

Yes, right.

Okay.

Okay, and you're using the whole the entire house for the your your ministry.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

All right.

Okay.

I guess that's where I I want to verify with codes also that they know that there's only one kitchen and not four apartments in there.

And you there's not space where you could easily add the back three the other three apartments.

Like ta is there capped water and capped gas for the stove or whatever, or there how long has there only been one kitchen in there?

It's 15, 16 years.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh I'm that's what I wanted to verify.

And you and you're in there, uh, how often do you meet?

Yeah, pray we have prayer, morning prayer, noon prayer, uh, even seven days a week.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, I'm all set with that.

We're the only inner inner city Islamic uh uh uh society center uh in Syracuse.

All the other mosques there, not only in the inner city.

Great, okay.

Yeah, I've I'm all set.

All right, very good.

Um so I think Ann has uh the information that uh uh she needed and uh uh you know we've heard and uh uh if we have any questions we'll uh defer to Ann as well.

But it sounds like uh um uh you've supplied what uh uh she was looking for.

So thank you very much for coming in and uh certainly have a uh fine uh day and stay warm.

Thank you.

Feel free to visit us.

Yes, thank you.

Well, we got an invitation prior, so we've got we've got some work that we gotta do.

In case you haven't heard about our bean pass, maybe next time I'll uh next time I'll come here next year.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven bean pass.

All right, that sounds good.

We'll be sure to deny you next year or two.

Is James Street?

Yes.

Yes.

Do we want to call these guys?

I mean, it's only ten.

They're not doing noon.

I think five.

Joe.

So Finn's isn't till noon.

We only have till now.

Starts at 11.

It does say that.

Okay.

That all right, never mind.

I looked at 12 and okay.

Never mind.

No, I can see that uh memory as well.

This past one and did we restore it?

That's right.

Right, yep.

Remember, you had a great stories about boxing and rolling down the hill.

Yeah, yeah.

He was a good storyteller last year.

Yeah.

Yeah, it said uh uh yeah, it said 12.

Okay, that I just looked at 12.

Okay.

Oh no, we're we're fine.

Yeah, no problem at all.

Uh okay, 3429 James Street.

Hey.

How are you?

Good.

Thank you.

Uh okay, you're here for 3429 James Street, which is Liberty Resources.

Yes.

Okay.

Um if you could just raise your right hand.

Sure.

Uh state your name for the record.

Kelly Wolf?

Do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

I do.

Okay, thank you.

Uh so again, 3429 James Street.

Uh not for profit.

Uh residential use facility, uh housing liberty resources, crisis respite, residential program.

Uh funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Correct.

Okay.

Um was this uh uh denial or yeah you it was denied last year too.

So I guess we need to know what's happening because it so it sat anybody in there at all in twelve years.

So right now they are doing construction on it.

Um so they are in uh uh temporary location while the construction is getting completed.

The construction is set to be complete May 6th.

But were there people in there when you took it over?

Okay, so when you were here last year, there people were in there and then you had to move because I just uh very familiar because I drive by it all and I just wasn't sure if there were ever people.

So when it was sat exempt, there were people in there, but then you had to move them out to work on it.

To work on it out.

And you're working on it.

Yeah, it's right down there.

Is that Steve Thomas is working on that?

That part I don't know.

I didn't know.

But yeah, it's right by the plaza.

Yes.

Yeah, because I think it's at one point.

Right, exactly.

But now there's new black windows and all that good stuff in the middle.

And there's a little addition, is there a little small edition going?

I mean, don't worry about it.

Okay, that that's what where my concern was that it said exempt with nobody in there, but there were people, then you took them back out.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay, all right.

And uh yeah, there's there's uh yeah, as a matter of fact, uh I think uh last week uh I told by there, I think last Thursday, and there was actually a couple guys on scaffolding outside.

Yeah.

Uh freezing, yeah.

I happen to drive by and I'm looking, you know, concerned about them falling off and what have you.

Um I'm okay with that.

I just wanted to make sure there were pe I mean uh what the situation was, so that the people are going back in and renovation a lot of work uh whoever's uh doing the work is doing a nice job.

Yeah, yeah.

And I did check in with our facilities guy before I came, and he said they're starting like on the inside now, so I think the majority of the outside is complete.

Yeah, yeah.

Uh uh Okay, you're good Ann?

Yes, I'm all set.

Did I hear you say you're retiring?

Well, as of when we're gonna go.

It'll be uh Well, we know that.

Yeah, yeah.

Right.

Oh, that's the plan.

Thank you.

Thank you.

40.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, I know you wanted to come down, Kelly, so you know it's year link.

There's been a lot of year leaves today.

Uh we've got a little bit of a break, so if anybody needs to use the bathroom or go down and talk to the mayor's office.

You're allowing us to use the bathroom.

I know.

Okay.

Okay.

So these are that's a good way to do it on the work.

Okay, okay.

Yeah, I think we're good.

All right.

Thank we're gonna hit the grass.

Okay, so again, this is thirteen twenty-three North Salina Street.

Um we just uh take a look here.

If I can just interrupt, I think there's an application in there that I haven't seen because I couldn't find one and then I realized it was in there, but I don't think that question ten is answered, which is what do you use that property for?

So that needs to be filled out on number the question number ten on the use.

The pro the application in your hand, does that say property use at the top?

Or is that the per organization purpose?

Uh that's just uh goes up to five.

Uh this one here six, and that's that.

So it might be this one here.

This has to be what they're using.

Okay.

So question ten.

Uh it says describe in detail use or uses of the property.

So if you can fill that out, question ten.

That would be good.

So we've gotten a lot of mail back, so I want to verify what the mailing address is for this property because between us and the water department have gotten mail back.

So uh something must be up with the mailing address.

Okay.

So that's my home address only because we are having issues with the mail.

Sometimes we get mail, sometimes we don't.

And in this case, we never got a renewal letter for the taxes.

So I only found that out because you know, I went to pay the taxes.

So that's the address you want it to be.

So we're right now, because that's my home address.

I definitely will receive it.

I will reach out to the post office to see why we get it and sometimes we don't get it.

But for now, for the sake of getting the mail, I'd like it forwarded to my home address.

Um which is seven seven four six Davis Road South North Surrey, New York 13212.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

So we're good there.

And there's no um apartments or anything in this building.

No, okay.

Okay.

So we got the uh uh usage filled out.

Um is there was it a denial?

No, we didn't get it.

So oh we removed it.

Yes.

All right.

So you want me to leave this in the file?

Yeah, for now, yes.

Actually, you know what?

No.

I think I'll take it.

So it's just a uh uh you operate your unity firm.

Okay, yeah.

And no apartments, no kitchens or any of that.

I mean, there's a is our kitchen for the center itself.

Yeah, there's like not a stove, but there's like a wash area.

Okay, we use manly full gathering spaces.

And how long have you owned it?

I think around five years.

I can't remember the the exact date that we purchased.

Yeah, I think it was exempt, and then because we didn't get the paperwork.

So that's I mean, there's definitely a problem with the mail because we send out a few different notices, like the exemptions go out, then we send one, if not two notices to say, hey, we haven't gotten it.

If and I noticed in your water bills, they also received there's do you want me to change the mailing address in the water?

So the water bill uh now I think you guys notify us by email now, so I get it by email.

Okay.

Okay.

So that's okay, but I'll say you guys don't do that for now, and unless and when it gets straightened out or you think it's straightened out, then you gotta change it back to the property or however you want to do that.

Okay.

So I can just save on the P.O.

box and just have it for you.

Yes.

However, yes.

Okay.

I'm okay.

Okay.

Yep.

Okay.

I think we have the the necessary information.

We have the mail uh worked out at this point.

Um so uh uh if you don't have anything else to add, uh which I don't think is necessary, uh then uh uh we'll take a look at all the information the city will send you a notice first week of April.

Okay, okay.

And then the renewal form for next year will go to you in the fall.

In the fall.

Okay, just the normally October, September ish.

Okay, no.

But it's always by you have to bring it handed in by the end of the year by January 1st.

Okay, and the only thing in the file is just the application degrees application.

Yeah you've got the other two things.

So April will be notified on the decision.

Yes, and I in April, and it'll go to you.

Okay, perfect.

Awesome.

Oh, thank you.

That's so easy, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, 527 Oak Street.

I good morning.

How are you?

Hi there.

How are you?

Good.

Good.

You know, Ann?

Well, yeah.

We own our own building at 1010 James Street, so we've we've dealt with that too.

Yeah.

Yeah.

She's been great.

We won't hold it against you, though.

Okay.

Noted.

Uh okay, you're here for 527 Oak Street.

That's correct.

Which is next door to my office building.

I I do not need to recuse myself, I don't think.

Uh you're just familiar with the property with the property.

I don't know the ins and outs of anything.

So in that regard, uh I own the building at 531 Oak Street.

Uh okay, so let me just read this.

Uh let me uh square you in first.

If you can raise your right hand, state your name for the record.

Patricia J.

Reddell.

You affirm to tell the truth and give uh accurate information to the best of your ability.

I do.

Okay, thank you.

Um so just to read it in 527 Oak Street.

This property will be a six-unit apartment building with two family units that will be wheelchair accessible.

Um current tentative assessed value, a hundred thousand dollars, uh no land value uh shown.

Uh and no uh petitioners uh estimate of fair market value.

Uh I'm assuming this is a uh full exemption request.

Okay.

And uh this is the first time you've in front of the board correct.

Okay.

Um let me just flip through if I could.

Uh so it was purchased for two hundred and sixty-five thousand in uh on July twenty-ninth of twenty-four.

That's correct.

And we use donations for that full acquisition.

Okay.

I was wondering uh so the the total renovation is gonna cost about one point nine million.

That's correct.

Not including the two sixty-five purchase price.

Yeah, it's gonna be beautiful, I'm sure.

Well, we're very excited about it.

Yeah.

Um it's going to be uh program space.

Um what we find with refugees that have come here is that they have to work really hard to get their English established to get their employment established, and what we found is that the current market rates for people to pay for housing in Syracuse is high, especially for our the four units at the top are gonna be single units for people who have come alone and who um need to get established.

So this is very temporary housing in terms of the fact that we will be um furnishing the entire building, all of the apartments.

It won't be the typical rental space where people move in and move out.

We will be furnishing it.

We're giving them an opportunity to use a short period of time to get themselves established in uh jobs and and uh work that will allow them to be self-sustaining in the future and then move out into other um housing that's available within Syracuse.

But um on a lower two levels, the two family units that we're anticipating that are gonna be um handicapped accessible is one of the things that we have found is when um the folks come, you know, the the ability to find accessible housing is is tough, you know.

It's not as easy as it is for typically abled people.

So the point here is that we have two accessible apartments where families can move into also on a short-term basis until more suitable housing can be found, whether it's being on a wait list or um, but also, you know, uh for them as well, being able to uh get themselves established in such a way that they can be self-sustaining, because that's the goal really is to just give people a little bit of assistance in the short term so that they can get their feet under them and then go off and be successful.

And so that's why we're really really excited about um this property.

Also the fact that it's really located near our office building.

So, you know, we've placed many refugees over the years in the north side, and we feel like this is our opportunity to give back to the north side in terms of taking a very um I want to say this politely, dilapidated building that has had lots of issues, and use funds to from um a grant from Senator May, and we also have another grant through Schumer to be able to bring this up to a dignified space for people.

And um, it was in very poor condition, and if it had been left uh the way it was, I think it we would have lost it.

And it's a beautiful, uh very sturdy.

I mean, the the things that we're doing for that, you know, price tag of 1.9 million, we're not doing any reconstruction.

What you know, the the bones of the house have been fabulous.

It's new windows, electric, plumbing, um, you know, bringing it up to code uh in terms of all of those things and then taking it from a 10-unit um property to to the six unit um and not having anything in the basement and nothing in the attic space.

Um so we're we're we've worked with the pre preservation group to ensure that the plans architecturally for the outside of the house are gonna fit with with their needs.

Um and we're really excited about this house in terms, but I would love to see it be tax exempt because it is going to be used as a program space that helps people in accordance with our mission.

So we don't expect to, you know, earn um any kind of surplus revenue on it.

If anything, we have a backup plan that if we don't fill it the way we think for our purposes that we would fundraise to uh set the operational costs of the building.

And one of the things that I've done since I've been with Liberty or with Interfaith Works for you know the last 15 years is that we're really good at making sure we plan for worst case, but the roof is going to be done, all the infrastructure will be done.

So I think the maintenance costs at least initially will be minimal, um, unless something comes up that we didn't expect.

And with old houses, you know, that does happen.

Yeah, no, that's true.

Um target date of completion.

Okay.

So we're working with Rich and Gardner.

Um, they have been in the building since September.

Um, so uh we're probably more than 50 percent.

It's our hope that by the first of July that we will be finished, and everything is moving along in a very good fashion.

We've had a lot of good experience with Rich and Gardner on our 1010 property.

We were able to um do a new parking lot, um, and they helped us with that.

Um, and then we got another grant um for re um actually gutting and re-establishing the the bathrooms in our building, three levels.

Um, you know, it was 1960, 50 to 60s um, you know, structures, so those have been all revamped.

So we have a commitment um in this community to not only just to help people but to have um safe, affordable, well cared for properties in Syracuse.

Yeah, no, absolutely it definitely shows for sure, and anything like that.

I guess that's so you they've been in there working since 25 September.

Yeah, we got our permits um somewhere around the end of the summer.

So it was quite a while from the time of purchase to the time of um starting the work just because of the permitting process that we went through.

But um once they that was finalized and we had the green light to go, we did it was just we were out there at the end of the year, it was hard to determine if if anything was being to Tom went out and looked at it.

Um so I'm assuming doing all the interior stuff.

I gave you pictures in my um application just to try to give you a sense of before and after.

So and now it's even you know I just got a payment application for 275,000 this morning, and this is my second one.

So they're really they're Rich and Gardner is amazing.

We are lucky to have them here in this community.

Yeah, there's no question there's been work going on uh uh during 2025.

Okay.

I don't know the exact date, but yes, and uh uh and they're there you know Monday through Friday.

Is somebody there if if Tom wanted to take a walk?

Absolutely okay.

Absolutely.

Just let me know, and we'll make sure that um we let the uh contractor know um to expect you, but um and um as the CFO I haven't been over, but I'm excited to do that because I was in it when we purchased it.

Um and all indications are that it's really you can actually see now the studying for the individual apartments.

Um it's a it's a it's a beautiful asset for this community, really.

Okay, yeah, I think I'll have Tom maybe want get a hold of you and please please anybody even wants to see it.

Happy to show you.

Yeah, I I've never been in it, and uh um I'd be interested in taking a peek at it now.

I had no desire to look at it uh you know, prior to in the condition that it was in.

Okay, um, because I you know thought about potentially purchasing um, but I'm also trying to retire too.

So uh I didn't want another project that big.

It it it is, but um, I'm someone who's very partial to you know older homes um and I'm in love with it, even when it was really bad.

But yeah, is how long do people stay there?

What's the short term?

We're uh we're thinking a year, you know.

You know, that's gives gives people um who can't afford market rates rents to get themselves established to also, you know, if they're learning English, um people are very motivated to work as soon as they get here, and though, and of course we're not settling any new people, so we're still continuing to serve the people who have come over the last couple of years, but really just helping them so that they can then be self-sufficient, and they are driven to be so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It was furnished.

We didn't need any reprise.

We didn't know what we were going to do with it.

We called rescue mission.

We called several places.

We finally got a hold of you guys.

These guys were hard workers and they showed up and they they had this box truck, but they thought they were there to pick up a couch.

And I said, Gouch, I got a house full of furniture.

You can have anything you want.

He made a quick phone call and said, Okay, sir, we'll take it off.

Well, wonderful.

That's that's what we've heard.

And you know, we still have our warehouse.

We're hoping that things will turn around, but also we're kind of pivoting in terms of there's other people who need furniture who you know might not have it.

Our older adult citizens who might not have what they need.

Um, you know, so we're still continuing to deliver to folks based on what's in our warehouse, and I have continued to pay for that.

How many of these types of properties we are?

This is our first.

Well, other than 1010 James Street, which is our operational building, it's our first, and we have been at this.

I I've been with Interfaith now for 14 years in May.

We've been we looked at a lot of properties through the land bank, um, you know, through um, you know, the real estate market, just trying to find a home on the north side that was always our intention.

The beauty of this is the bone structure was so great that it was worth the investment, right?

So that it will be here now for the long term.

Uh is there a further appetite for uh doing uh other locations.

It's not part of our strategic plan to be landlords or to have commercial properties.

Um that's not to say that maybe something might happen in the future where we may entertain it, but it's not part of our strategic planning now.

And and this is really I mean, we have tenants in our own building.

So at 1010, um, we you know based on our applications that we have two organizations that reside in our building, but they're not for profit agencies as well.

So we have always rented to not-for-profit agencies, so it with the hope that you know their market rents against their budgets is reasonable as well, rather than going out into just normal commercial space.

And the fact that we're co-located means we help each other.

If there's you know a grant, sometimes we can do things together.

So we're just information you need.

No.

I'm gonna I'll have time to go just take a look at it.

Just please, anyone if you're interested, it it's really fun.

Okay, um just let me know what the plan is.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Good news story.

Yeah, no, it's uh uh I agree.

And um certainly gonna be much better than what uh was there uh so you know, certainly uh uh including myself, the uh uh neighbors are gonna be very happy with uh respect to what uh uh what you're doing.

Yeah, the former building owner was from New York City, so they weren't even here.

Um they also changed hands a few times, and uh um I will say that uh the uh I've uh owned my building uh since uh I'm gonna say June or July of 2010.

Never had an issue as far as tenants uh occupants were concerned, as far as the building was concerned.

It was just the landlords were pretty absentee.

Um but uh um never uh had an issue, you know, they'd come in my driveway to turn around type thing, uh which you know no big deal.

Um, but uh overall uh never had an issue as far as uh occupants of the property.

Um maybe no question.

I'll be like Trump and uh I'll I'll make my own decision.

Uh anyway, uh that was a I did an initial form pro forma just to show you what I'm thinking, but I know I didn't meet the deadline of getting it to you ahead of time, but if you want to see it in terms of what I'm just thinking, but obviously there's no tenants and I'm not paying for the operational expenses, so a lot of what I've got here is estimates based on what I'm thinking.

So please.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, it's good information.

It's a budget draft, but at this point it's what I'm what I'm heading for.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for coming in.

Yes, and thank you for what you're doing.

Yes.

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about our program.

We're very, very excited about it.

So if there's an open house, please watch for that and calm because I think it's gonna be great.

So thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Take it easy.

Thank you.

All right, we're ready for you.

How's it going?

Are you good?

Good.

Good to see you again.

Your family.

Everybody good.

Good.

He's doing well.

He's he's telling me what to do now.

So you know, that's the way it goes.

He's the boss, right?

That's the way it goes.

How are you?

Good.

How are you doing?

Um given a lot of thought, got some different thoughts and what have you.

Uh so we'll kind of put everything on the table.

Um should I swer you both in?

Uh I will do that anyway, but then should I uh uh same argument for all the properties?

Uh should I read them all in?

Uh opening statement, read them all in, then discuss um if there's anything specific we should know about a particular property, uh interject at that time that it's being read in.

Um and then we'll get into you know what the issues are and how it might be able to be resolved.

Okay, sounds good.

Okay.

Um so if you could just uh raise your right hands, state your name for the record.

Kathleen Bennett, Don Sheniken King.

Okay, John Brouwer, Lemoyne College.

Do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

Yes.

I do.

Okay, all right, very good.

Uh okay.

So how about um is this the uh I just want to recap a little bit.

Um is this the third year that they've come in that you've come in?

Yes, it is.

All right, so uh nothing nothing prior.

Uh first year, second year, and we're at third now.

Um just kind of uh yeah, uh give us a little synopsis of uh um from the beginning to now, and then if anything's changed from last year to this year.

I I'm actually gonna take a little bit of a different approach, if that's okay, and I'm gonna focus on 420A of the real property tax law, which is the section that provides the exemption, right?

And and that entitles any corporation or association that's organized for charitable educational or for the moral or mental improvement of men, women, and children.

And when they use that property for that purpose um to be entitled to an exemption from property taxation.

And it it is pretty clear under New York State law that on and off campus housing for students is exempt from property taxes.

And I think last year it came up that property owned by Finns, both in the city and in the town of DeWitt does have exemptions on some of its other properties.

Uh and so what I wanted to point out is here where the nonprofit corporation and Finns is a nonprofit.

If you look at its certificate of incorporation, which was provided with, I think the exemption application, I don't think it was provided with the grievance, but certainly we can resubmit that.

Um that says that FINS provides educational, cultural, recreational, physical fitness, athletic, and social activities and programs for students, faculties, and staff and the community.

Um so it's organized, right?

For an educational and charitable and for the moral and mental improvement of young men and women, and it uses those properties to serve that purpose.

So Finn's in and of itself is entitled to the exemption just based on the statutory definition.

Um's is also a legal affiliate of Lemoyne.

So it's wholly owned by Lemoine.

It's governed by Lemoine, it's controlled by Lemoyne.

Lemoyne is its sole member, that's also specified in its certificate of incorporation.

So I I know there was some concern, I believe, when I talked to Matt in the past.

Um about the ownership, and I know there's some case law out there.

That some of that case law is based on.

So I just want to get that on the record.

Um as I said, the housing provided by FINS serves the educational and moral and mental welfare of young men and women.

Um's offers the same programmatic educational benefits that's offered offered to both on campus and other off-campus housing that's owned by Lemoyne.

And I know last year these programmatic elements were one of the issues or concerns that were flagged.

Uh so for example, we're talking about 20 properties.

One is used for staff.

I believe that's the director of student housing.

And one is used for college office space.

Uh the cost is about $10,000, which is actually less than other on campus housing.

Um, it includes all utilities, internet, water, electricity.

Uh they aren't leased, right?

Students have to apply.

There's a process, there's a meeting, um, and they're selected based on what they write in those applications, and then they enter into a housing agreement, the same as every other Lemoine student.

So it's it's not lease-based, it's a housing agreement.

And I I think the application process asks students to consider why they want to be a part of the community where the house is located.

And that results in selecting students, right, who want to live in a community.

Um, and and it helps with the mission here, which is to provide sort of that first hand residential education about how to live in a community.

And I'm gonna let Jack speak about that after I just kind of finish going through my remarks.

Um, but some of the the programmatic elements to this housing, right?

There's a health undergraduate house, um, there's a men's basketball house, there's a women's soccer house, right?

So there's there's this theme housing.

Um, there's an HEOP house, uh, which is a higher education opportunity program, provides educational experience to students who do to academic under preparation and limited financial resources, might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college.

So that he up uses that house to host barbecues, dinners, and other community gatherings that support their mission mission.

Um it's my understanding there's going to be a substance free house next year.

We'll see.

Okay, all right.

Um the homes are maintained by college employees, they're patrolled by college campus safety, and financial aid can be applied to pay for the cost of residing in one of these houses.

Um is not receiving a profit, but to the extent that it does, that goes back into Lemoine College to fund the educational um mission of the college.

So again, FINS property satisfies the statutory requirements of Section 420A.

Um, and that's the only consideration.

So I think one of the other things that came up last year that I heard Matt say was that the city didn't want to be in a position of advantaging one property over another based on you know one property getting an exemption.

FINS isn't competing against your private landlords.

FINS is providing student housing to students of Le Moine.

And so that consideration should not be relevant to this application.

It should just be does FINS satisfy the statutory language of 420A.

And I submit that it does.

And we're happy to answer any questions, and I'll let Jack say anything that he would like to say.

Yeah, yeah, I think, but if you if you want to jump in, um Yeah, I think my only really minor correction is we don't provide internet or Wi-Fi, but everything else is.

He said that last year though.

I got that from last year.

That must have been Joe.

Okay.

Um yeah, I think you know, if I was gonna reiterate anything, it's it's that we're really happy to offer an educational opportunity for students that decide to live in the Salt Springs neighborhood.

I think that's the best part of my job by far and away is um trying to host community events that put students and neighbors at the same table and give them the opportunity to talk and kind of ground this new experience for 20, 21, 22 year olds through the understanding of neighbors that have been in Salt Springs for 30, 40, even sometimes 50 years.

I think that's incredibly valuable for them.

So we do try to support the overall engagement of students within Salt Springs behind the scenes a lot.

Um I also say I'm really proud of the the HEOP house and what they've been able to do with that space, um, having access to a kitchen and a backyard and strengthening their cohort of about 80 students and hosting events for them and going door to door and inviting some neighbors to those barbecues and just creating a really nice neighborly experience that when you walk down the street on a Friday evening, it's not your stereotypical kind of red solo cup oriented student activity, but it's family friendly and it's um you know it's great to see, and it's it's really rewarding to try to foster those kinds of environments in Salt Springs with with students and neighbors.

All right.

Um green soldier.

All right.

Um let me just open up.

I'm gonna read all of these in, but I just want to look at one thing here.

Okay.

So why was why was it not titled in Lemoine College as opposed to Finn's management?

You know, why why why you know uh Syracuse University, I think has everything Syracuse University, and then we have this Finn's management.

Why was that done?

Why was it done?

And is it possible to uh retitle everything to Lemoyne College?

Because I think that's basically the crux of this situation, I think, and I want you to speak if on anything that I'm incorrect on.

Okay.

Yes, understood.

Um, but if I'm if if what I'm hearing is that um uh if these properties were titled in Lemoine College, uh then it would be uh uh an acceptable uh uh process to get these things under uh a nonprofit status.

Am I correct in that 420 by the 420, yes.

Okay, okay.

So so my question, um, I guess, and I'm not privileged to the conversations with Matt.

He would be here, but he's sick.

Okay, but what I'm trying to get at is that if that, you know, because we're trying to bring some resolution here, and uh if that is gonna get it done, then I gotta believe that Lemoyne will do that, and it's gonna cost a little money up front, you know, and legal fees and what have you, but then everything's in Lemoyne College name, and that's that.

Uh I don't know if it's that simple, but uh that's all I seem to be hearing.

And uh I believe that it's not gonna get resolved unless we go in that direction.

So it's my understanding it was done because they were looking to cut compartmentalize liability and then be able to sort of track the financial operations better.

Um it's easier to do that when it's not part of the college as a whole, as I understand it.

Well, understood.

And uh it's wholly irrelevant because FinS is organized as a nonprofit corporation under the New York State not for profit corporation law, and they receive federal, right?

They're 501 C3 under the federal tax statute.

They receive, I believe, state exemptions as well for sales tax and income tax.

They are an exempt entity in and of themselves that is organized for the purposes that 420A provides an exemption for.

And they use those properties for those charitable and educational and for the moral and mental improvement of young men and women.

Okay.

And I guess it's a uh a difference of opinion or a difference in philosophy with respect to whether it's relevant or not.

And therein's a legal issue.

Yes, I do too, which you know uh may end up being where this thing goes, right?

Uh you know, without speaking uh uh out of turn, if you will.

Um let me let me let me read these in and get these on the record.

I think that's uh the next step, and then we'll come back.

Uh you don't care about the order, these are read in, I assume.

Um I think they're in the order of what's on the sheet.

Um you have an extra sheet uh uh that we could just provide them from a list standpoint.

Okay, all right, very good.

So it'll be in that if you look at uh 11 o'clock, uh 1600 Salt Springs Road.

That's where I'll start off and I'll just work my way down.

Uh and I know that this is all a uh not-for-profit uh issue.

All right.

So we've got sixteen hundred Salt Springs Road, uh student housing, current tentative assessed value, 120,000, uh, with a thirteen thousand two hundred dollar land value.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is a hundred and ninety-five thousand.

Again, uh it is a uh uh not-for-profit uh request.

Then we have sixteen oh six Salt Springs Road.

Uh this is student housing, current tentative assessed value 120,000 with a land value of 13,200.

Uh petitioner believes the fair market value is two hundred and twenty-nine thousand.

Uh next up is fourteen seventy-four Salt Springs Road, uh student housing, uh current tentative assessed value 140,000 with a land value of $18,000.

Uh petitioner believes the fair market value is $242,000.

Uh $1125 Salt Springs Road.

Uh this is administrative office space, current tentative assessed value, $96,200.

With a land value of $17,700.

And the petitioner believes the fair market value is $449,000.

Uh $209 Fayette Boulevard.

Student housing, current tentative assessed value, $82,400 with a land value of $8,000.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $155,000.

$254 Fayette Boulevard, uh student housing, current tentative assessed value, $81,900 with a land value of $10,000.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $133,000.

$630 autobomb parkway, uh student housing, current tentative assessed value, $85,100 with a land value of $11,900.

And petitioner believes the fair market value is $165,000.

612 Autobond Parkway, uh student housing, current tentative assessed value, $98,600 with a land value of 11,900.

And the petitioner believes the fair market value is 226,000.

609 sells Barry Park Drive.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessed value 73,500 with a land value of $12,200.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $136,000.

$400 Fayad Boulevard.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessed value $88,000 with a land value of $11,000.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $186,000.

$201 Harwood Av.

Current tenative assessed value $70,600 with a land value of $10,600.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $157,000.

$143 Melbourne Av.

Student Housing Current Tenet of Assessed Value $86,300 with a land value of $11,600.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $219,000.

$142 Melbourne Av.

Student Housing per intentative assessed value $84,000 with a land value of $11,600.

Property owners estimate of fair market value $156,000.

$136 Melbourne Av.

Student Housing, current tentative assessed value, $80,000 with a land value of $11,600.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $196,000.

$118 Melbourne Av.

Student Housing, current tentative assessed value $74,000 with a land value of $11,600.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $219,000.

$117 Phillips Road.

Student housing, current tentative assessed value, $140,000 with a land value of $10,800.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $189,000.

$115 Phillips Road.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessment $135,000 with a land value of $19,500.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $200,000.

$110 Phillips Road.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessed value $140,000 with a land value of $14,700.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $238,000.

$109 Phillips Road.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessed value $140,000 with a land value of $14,300.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $176,000.

And $102 Phillips Road.

Student housing.

Current tentative assessed value $140,000 with a land value of $14,700.

Petitioner believes the fair market value is $184,000.

Okay.

So that's all the I think there's $20 properties.

Yes.

Okay.

Was there $20 last year too?

Or into the portfolio.

No, there were $20 last year as well.

I'll come back to you, but Anne, anything you want to say?

We will revisit the $420 requirements, but again, Matt's not here, and I kind of like to discuss it.

Sure.

So conveniently it's not here.

Is there anything in 420A that applies to housing?

Part of it could be, yeah.

But again, I want to revisit it.

And you know, I know Kathleen put the law in there, but with that one.

Well, for example, the YMCA and the YWCA offer housing and they qualify under 420A.

That's the exemption that those types of entities use for their housing as well.

Okay.

Um is it possible to get uh I don't think it's I think just the application is uh any can we get the uh I mean is the 420A like this or is it something that or huh?

Okay.

Can we get a can I get a copy of that?

Yeah.

Uh so maybe we'll start off with uh or at least get into that.

Um because we we want to try to resolve it, right?

And I know you do too.

Uh and you as well.

Um so we like seeing you every year, but uh we'd like to uh you know uh get a meeting of the minds if possible as to how to do this thing, right?

And uh so we can stop the dance if you will.

Um and uh anything else you want to add?

We did just receive the information request yesterday.

So um if we could just have I mean I don't even know if you want additional information, but if you want anything that was in that request, we did just get that yesterday, we'd be happy to provide um any additional information.

It was just hard to do it.

Yeah, it's more it kind of goes with any type of commercial grievance, more or less, but we have all the income and expenses so we should do have whatever was.

Okay.

So I think we're but if we do, and I again we'll review everything with Matt and our legal, but I I think we have everything we need.

Okay.

I mean, because I guess we're happy to provide whatever.

I just I also don't want to overprovide or provide something you already have, right?

Yes, right.

Yes, yes.

No, we don't want you to over provide either.

Right.

Uh but uh yeah, no, I think uh anybody else have any other questions?

I just had a couple.

Uh so it's you said it's a legal affiliate of Lemoyne.

Does Lemoyne have any control over the decisions made by this nonprofit?

It's my understanding that it does, yes.

And you said that any profits are left over, which is not the intent.

They would go to Lemoyne Yes.

Do you have any record of how much profits were given to Lemoy?

Uh I don't know that it makes a profit at this point.

Yeah, yeah, we reported a loss in 2425 on that income.

I can give you the income statement if you if you want it, but I believe it's in our packet as well.

Yeah, it's it's attached to the applications.

Oh, okay.

All right, very good.

And then just uh third question is you said the service services or the community service resources are the same as provided to other Le Moyne facilities for housing as far as the programming goes.

Programming.

I would say that it differs in some capacities in that let's say if a student's living in a dorm, they're gonna have some different needs.

So that's gonna be more about how do you get along with all the other freshmen that live in that dorm.

So you're gonna have an RA and those types of supports.

When you move out into the neighborhood, there's a bit more independence, but you've got different neighbors and college students, right?

So the programming, the supports are there, but the audience and the objectives differ a little bit.

Does that make sense?

It does.

Okay.

So all these are apartments then?

These are all single family homes.

Single family homes.

Yes.

Yeah.

Bills bills new to the board uh this year or so uh not familiar with the the two priors.

Did I hear right that there is a fraternity or sorority that has a house there or is it not?

No, Lemoyne College does not have Greek life.

Thank you.

Are there any Le Moyne students that live in that neighborhood that don't live in a house?

I'm sure there are you like to let me know.

No, follow up on the portfolio issue.

Is it your I mean this seems to be uh successful program thanks to you?

I don't think any of us have an issue with what you're doing.

I think it's appropriate.

Admirable.

Like the question, but are you going, is there a plan and the master plan to expand that?

I would say without you know, speaking out of term because I don't make those decisions at Lemoyne.

Um that this was a group of 20 properties that was purchased from one landlord in one transaction.

So it was a bit of a take it or leave it scenario, which is why they're a little more scattered around the neighborhood.

Um so I would be shocked if Lemoyne went out and purchased properties that were that far west or east in Salt Springs.

Um they do have some like the Vets House and an Erie 21 house and some other properties right on Springfield Road and Salt Springs Road immediately surrounding the campus.

I wouldn't be shocked if a property came up and they were interested in it for a various number of reasons.

But not necessarily purchasing another portfolio, so to speak.

No, I don't I don't believe so.

No, and just to reiterate what Bill said, um we definitely um don't have an issue with the mission, you know, and and what you're doing.

We're just you know trying to do the the right thing from a legal standpoint, and you know uh kind of caught in the middle, and and uh so that's why we want to try to you know get a get uh uh some sort of resolution in the middle that makes everybody happy.

Sure, that makes sense.

And we we appreciate the work you all do and serving on this board is yeah, it's it's really needed, so no problem.

Thank you for saying that.

A lot of you I've seen for many years now, so yes, I appreciate it.

Yes.

One last question I just thought of.

Uh does Lemoyne have a shared services agreement with the city?

I don't believe so, but again, I don't think I don't I don't I'm not aware of one, but that's okay.

The answer is no.

Okay.

That's uh uh shared services, right?

Okay.

Um anything else you want to add pretty good shape at this point, and yeah, so we'll get with uh corporation counsel and Ann and Matt and uh we'll get a copy of that uh um uh information and uh yeah I think uh we'll just see if we can put something together this year.

Sounds good.

Yeah, good to see you both.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, I will.

All right.

You're always looking for you all.

Yeah.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Thanks again.

Nice to see you.

Good to see you.

All right, take care.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, these are and before you adjourn, I just want to for anybody that watches on the live stream due to a conflict that uh we were unable to avoid, we're unable to be in the council chambers tomorrow, so we will be in the ILAB.

Um it is still open to the public, so anybody who wants to come join is welcome to.

And um it will be streamed, but because the common council chambers will also be live streaming, it's we're unable to live stream two things at once.

So it will be recorded and posted next week.

Um if anybody has any questions, you know, feel free to uh call the office and I will try to answer any of them for you.

But um that's uh tomorrow.

Okay, thank you very much.

And uh with that uh uh that concludes today's hearings, and uh thank you very much.

Have a great day.