Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With a pair of separate, but intertwined legislative acts, the Buffalo Common Council is looking at ways to act the problem of more than 7,000 vacant lots across the city.
Council members approved a City Homestead Act on Tuesday, where people can buy a Buffalo-owned vacant lot for, at least, $1,000, but it comes with the caveat that the property can not be land banked. It must be developed in less than two years.
The offer is available to individuals and businesses with the hope that the lots may be developed into housing, urban farms or a private sector-backed venture.
"It's time for our vacant lots to become assets for the neighborhood," said Bryan Bollman, President Pro Tempore for the Council.
At the same time, the Council took the first step towards creating a progressive tax on privately-owned vacant lots. The new tax could be enacted within the next year, predicted Niagara District Councilman David Rivera.
"Too many of these lots are just sitting there," Rivera said. "We need to do something."
Rivera says he hopes the progressive tax will be a spark to get privately-owned vacant lots developed.
"That's our hope," he said.