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Land Bank Update: Upper Jay Property Marks Essex County Land Bank Success

This year, the Essex County Land Bank achieved a milestone of putting its first rehabilitated property—a formerly blighted home in Upper Jay—up for sale. Listed at $150,000, this home is exclusively available to year-round residents earning less than 200% of the Area Median Income, marking a significant step forward in addressing housing challenges in the Adirondack region.

This success is especially meaningful to AdkAction, as it reflects the culmination of efforts initiated through our Land Bank Incubator Project, launched in late 2021. The project was designed to convene conversations and foster shared learning among local leaders about using land banks as a tool to address the region’s affordable housing crisis.

Throughout early 2022, AdkAction brought together municipal and county officials, planners, and nonprofit leaders from Essex, Clinton, Franklin, and Warren counties to explore how land banks could help address the Adirondacks’ housing shortage. These roundtable discussions provided a platform for collaboration, enabling participants to consider both independent and regional approaches to implementing land banks.

As a third-party convener, AdkAction’s role was to foster an open, collaborative environment, allowing local leaders to explore opportunities, share insights, and form partnerships. This process ultimately supported the establishment of the Essex County Land Bank in 2023, administered by the North Country Rural Development Coalition (NRDC).

The Upper Jay property was a significant challenge, requiring the removal of over 8,000 pounds of trash and the remediation of hazardous lead and asbestos issues, according to North Country Public Radio. The rehabilitated property is now poised to become a safe, affordable home for a local family, a transformation that exemplifies the Land Bank’s mission to turn vacant and underutilized properties into valuable community assets. 

The Essex County Land Bank is one of only two land banks in the North Country, alongside Franklin County’s. Both were established in response to increasing housing pressures in the Adirondacks and across New York State. In addition to rehabbing blighted properties, the Essex County Land Bank has introduced two innovative programs to revitalize communities and support local economic development:

  • Vacant Rental Improvement Program (V-RIP): Targets the conversion of vacant properties into affordable rental units, offering up to $75,000 per unit for deeper affordability.
  • Pilot Vacant Property Clearance Program (VPCP): Focuses on demolishing derelict structures that pose health and safety risks.

At AdkAction, we are inspired by the Essex County Land Bank’s efforts and proud of our role in helping to lay the groundwork for this initiative. We look forward to continuing to support housing solutions that strengthen communities and enhance quality of life in the Adirondack region.

Learn More: Explore the Essex County Land Bank’s programs: essexcountylandbank.org

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