Published: July 02, 2008 12:16 am            

OUR VIEW: Spruce Street situation needs answers

We’re glad to see North Tonawanda officials being proactive about the situation involving the low-income housing units on Spruce Street, but there are still questions to be answered.

The owner, Sheldrake Inc., is behind on utility bills and payments made in lieu of taxes to the tune of more than $350,000. City officials are making sure that taxpayers aren’t left holding the bag on an absentee landlord’s failure to make good on promises.

Taxpayers should under no circumstances be asked to foot the bill on a PILOT that was signed in good faith. Furthermore, residents on Spruce Street shouldn’t be forced to worry that eviction notices will be served because the landlord wasn’t holding up its end of the bargain.

While the city will be first in line to collect on the utility and back payments, questions remain about what will happen to the apartments. Will a new owner emerge? If not, what will happen to them?

There is already an interim steward in charge of collecting rent, but that isn’t a long-term solution. Are city leaders prepared to take on an ownership role until the problem is resolved?

Given the circumstances — c these are low-income people who can’t just move at the drop of a hat without serious financial problems — we see the need for this question to be addressed. If these people are thrown out on the street, it becomes everyone’s problem and there’s a moral obligation on the part of the entire city to make sure that doesn’t happen. If the property owners are going to abdicate responsibility, city leaders need to develop a plan that both minimizes the public expense, but also ensures that residents aren’t made homeless because of budget concerns.

North Tonawanda Mayor Larry Soos says he’s confident it won’t come to that, but the possibility remains that it could. What would happen if it does remains to be seen.

        

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