Tax sale properties deadline is looming
The city has released a list of 42 properties, owing about $85,700 in back taxes, that will be transferred to the owners of each respective property's tax sale certificate in late June if the property owners, or interested parties, do not pay the amount owed to City Hall in full.
Comptroller James E. Mills said this year is "very comparable" to previous years. In 2009, the city advertised 43 properties owing about $76,000 in taxes.
The city annually holds tax sales for properties that have gone one year in arrears with city, Jefferson County or city school district property taxes. The city is made whole when bidders, usually investment firms, pay those delinquent taxes following tax sale auctions.
Delinquent owners have two years after a tax sale to redeem their properties before the owner of the tax sale certificate can request to take ownership of the properties. To do so, they must pay all outstanding taxes and any interest and penalties. The city imposes a 1-percent-per-month interest charge on properties, which then is given to the tax sale certificate holder, along with the money paid for the certificate, if the property owner pays in full.
Tax sale certificates for properties that could be transferred this summer were auctioned in June 2008. The two-year period for redemption expires June 25.
Mr. Mills said nearly all of the property owners historically pay the back taxes before the properties can change hands.
"They'll come in our office until the last day," he said.
The city charter says the comptroller must publish properties in danger of changing hands 90 days before the two-year anniversary of the tax sales certificate auction.
Notable commercial properties listed are:
■ Shorty's Diner, 1280 Coffeen St., owned by 81 Front Street Development LLC, for $15,667.
■ North Side Improvement League, 633 Mill St., for $7,322.
■ Former Watertown Savings Bank, 1833 State St., owned by Prime LLC for $6,094.
■ 909 Arsenal St., owned by Onondaga Development LLC, for $5,386.
■ Former Gorri's Market site, 901 Arsenal St., owned by Onondaga Development LLC, for $3,615.
■ Former Carvel franchise, 1850 State St., owned by Brigitte J. Principe, for $3,231.
■ December 2009 fire site, 201 Academy St., owned by McIntosh & McIntosh LLC, for $2,809.
■ Former Abe Cooper site, 559 Factory St., owned by Onondaga Development LLC, for $1,565.
The back taxes published represent the amount owed at the time of the tax sale certificate auction and not the taxes accrued during the two-year period since then.
The principal of Onondaga Development LLC is P.J. Simao, who along with Mark V. Picarazzi owns DealMaker Auto Group. Mr. Simao also is a principal of Prime LLC and 81 Front Street Development LLC.
To date, the city is slated to take ownership of five properties, all of which are vacant except for 591 Rear W. Main St., which houses a pair of vacant industrial buildings on 4.3 acres. In 2009, the city took ownership of three vacant parcels for back taxes.
