Program Purpose

This program permits municipalities to apply for and create land banks in their communities. 
Pursuant to Article 16 of the New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, signed into law by
Governor Cuomo in July 2011, certain municipalities are permitted to create land banks upon approval of ESD. 
Land banks are not-for-profit corporations created to take control and redevelop vacant
or abandoned properties to where they can better serve the public interest.  

 

Program Highlights

• In order to combat the problem of vacant and abandoned properties,

the program permits local communities to create land banks to be utilized by
communities to facilitate the return of vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties to productive use.  

• The primary focus of land bank operations is the acquisition of real property that is tax delinquent,

tax foreclosed, vacant and/or abandoned, and to use the tools of the program to
eliminate the harms and liabilities caused by such properties.

• Ten land banks will be permitted to be created within New York State.

 

Eligibility, Criteria & Additional Program Information
Eligibility, criteria and additional program information, can be found in the Land Bank Program Guidelines.
For additional information, please review the Land Bank Act (Article 16 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law).

 

Application Process
Applications for the third round are available here and can be submitted anytime on or after May 1, 2013. 
The applications must be submitted to ESD Regional Office addresses or
electronically to NYLandBank@esd.ny.gov.


Contact Information
To learn more about the Land Bank Program, please contact Steve Gawlik, ESD Sr. Counsel,
via email or phone at 716-846-8257.