A silk purse from a sow's ear?

In the case of The Howard or Scenic Salinger or other proposed 79-E commercial/residential properties on South Main and Hanson streets, there is a commercial element. (Courtesy photos)

Used to be when a landlord was looking to rehab an apartment building for new tenants, they'd take out a loan or dip into savings.
In today's world, however, they go to the City of Rochester and ask city leaders to get taxpayers to help pay for it.
The use of 79-E, a statute designed to incentivize investment in the downtown by developers, allows them to buy unimproved buildings and make improvements, but then only pay taxes on the unimproved assessed value for a number of years.
In the case of 135 North Main, that number of years would be seven, during which time every city taxpayer will share in the burden of making up for the city's decreased revenue if it is approved for 135 North Main St.
In the case of The Howard or Scenic Salinger or other proposed 79-E commercial/residential properties on South Main and Hanson streets, there is a commercial element with most expected to be restaurants, bistros, wine bars or boutiques, all of which contribute to the city's economy.
But in the case of 135 North Main St., the city is actually losing what used to be a barbershop on the first floor; the new owner want to retrofit it into a three-bedroom apartment.
According to the state statute that governs 79-E, "Its goals are to encourage the rehabilitation and active use of under-utilized buildings and, in so doing, to promote strong local economies."
But how does renovating a small existing apartment house promote a strong economy?
City officials who will try to cram this down the City Council's throat tonight will say it's a rundown building. They'll say the aesthetics don't look good for the downtown. They'll say "We're trying to move the city forward."
Well, the residents of Rochester already pay a pretty penny in property taxes. They shouldn't have to help pay landlords to pretty up their apartments so they can charge higher rents.
Landlords are suppose to recover those costs through those future rents.
Prior to sale the property value at 135 North Main St. was assessed at between $295,000 and $383,000, according to zillow.com. It sold for $137,755 in January 2022.

So the buyer got a pretty good deal on the sale. Now they want the taxpayers of Rochester to help out with the fixup.

Remember every dime they don't pay, you pay.
And City Councilors should be thinking not only about the vitality of their city but also the welfare of their constituents who voted them into office.

We urge city residents to call their councilor ahead of tonight's public hearing and make their feelings known. Better still, come down to the hearing and tell them yourselves.

It begins at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall.

- HT