Abandoned, vacant, and zombie properties around Western New York continue to be a major issue for neighborhoods in every corner of the Buffalo area. From the posh suburbs to the middle of the inner city, these structures often drain a community of the life and vibrancy that makes the 716 such a great place to live.
Sometimes circumstances happen to a property where the owner falls on hard times or there’s some sort of outside action, like a fire, that causes a property to fall into disrepair, while other times an owner just abandons a property and walks away. When that happens, neighbors and government officials often have little recourse to be able to make things better.
However, there is a clause in New York State real estate law that allows cities and towns to seize property that has been abandoned or neglected…