City set to auction off houses for unpaid taxes, turn three over to Habitat for Humanity

The city's tax lien auction list for 2015 includes 12 parcels, with five single-family homes and two commercial buildings.

City staff is also recommending the sale of three vacant homes in poor condition to Habitat for Humanity for rehabilitation and sale to a low-income family.

There's also a piece of vacant property on Law Street next to the city's current yard waste collection center -- the center is on leased land -- that may be suitable for a new yard waste facility.

These four properties aren't included on the list of properties slated to be auctioned off March 14 at Bontrager's on Wortendyke Road, Town of Batavia.

In a memo to City Council, City Manager Jason Molino noted that the city has previously sold seven single-family homes to Habitat for Humanity, and these homes have been successfully rehabilitated and occupied, increasing the average assessment by 38 percent.

The three properties to be offered to Habitat this year are:

• 54 Oak St., which has been vacant since March 2011, for $2,500
• 131 Pearl St., which has been vacant since August 2012, for $1,000
• 240 State St., whose owner died, for $2,500

The foreclosed properties slated for auction are:

Address Type Delinquency Value 214 Ellicott St. Commercial $13,396 $70,000 Ellicott Street, rear Vacant land $2,923 $31,000 Hall, City Centre Commercial $1,146 $10,000 30 Hutchins Place Vacant land $2,458 $3,600 26-28 Hutchins Place Vacant land $17,421 $35,000 South Main St. Vacant land $88 $100 159 Bank St. Single family $22,017 $72,000 33 Clinton St. Single family $37,630 $79,000 42 Lyon St. Single family $24,479 $69,000 27 Oak St. Single family $31,817 $60,000 210 Ross St. Single family $32,532 $68,000 214 Swan St. Two family $32,532 $68,000 141 Liberty St. Vacant land $9,325 $6,800

As in previous years, buyers will be reviewed by city staff and the city reserves the right to reject a purchase a buyer it believes is not qualified to maintain the property.