Preliminary Assessment of Vacancy and Abandonment Challenges in Ogdensburg, New York

Author(s): Center for Community Progress

In 2018, the City of Ogdesnburg, New York engaged the Center for Community Progress to provide technical assistance in support of developing a more effective, efficient and equitable approach to problem properties.

Our assessment resulted in the following key takeaways:

• There is consensus that the City is moving in the right direction under the current leadership. There is readiness to chart a new course that prioritizes policies, practices, and resources to tackle problem properties.
• Ogdensburg continues to struggle from the loss of anchor industries that were major employers. A market-sensitive approach will require systems-level reforms, improved coordination, and a more effective alignment of policies, practices, and resources.
• The City’s approach to data collection, integration, mapping, and analysis is limited, primarily due to outdated software systems and significant budgetary constraints.
• The code enforcement division has accomplished a great deal with very limited resources.
• The current practice of selling tax liens to enforce delinquent property taxes provides the City with a much-needed infusion of cash, however, it has drawbacks.

Our observations and recommendations, then, fall under the following key systems of vacancy and abandonment: 1) data management and collection practices; 2) housing and building code enforcement; 3) delinquent property tax enforcement; and 4) land banking.