named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Board Governance and Public Meetings
Holds monthly public board meetings to ensure transparency and community engagement in land bank operations and decision-making.
Property Revitalization Program
Acquires, manages, and redevelops vacant and abandoned properties in Cattaraugus County to improve neighborhood conditions and promote private investment.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Land Bank Property Revitalization 6 activities
- Acquiring and redeveloping vacant and tax-delinquent propertiesStrategically acquires vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to clear liabilities, rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop them for productive use, returning properties to the tax roll and supporting neighborhood stabilization. Works in collaboration with municipalities, private sector partners, and housing providers to address community deterioration.
- Demolition and deconstruction of unsafe or abandoned structuresConducts demolition or deconstruction of unsafe, blighted, or abandoned structures as part of property stabilization and neighborhood improvement initiatives to reduce public safety hazards and support future redevelopment.
- Disposing of vacant lots and propertiesSells or leases vacant lots to adjacent property owners or community stakeholders through side lot sales, green lot programs, or nominal fee transfers to support land reuse for open space, community gardening, or future development.
- Managing and maintaining vacant propertiesManages properties in its inventory by securing, cleaning, making emergency repairs, and performing exterior upkeep to prevent blight and maintain neighborhood quality until final disposition. Includes ongoing maintenance of lots at the neighborhood level.
- Planning and implementing economic and community development projectsPlans and implements land reuse and redevelopment initiatives to stimulate economic development, improve neighborhood quality of life, increase property values, and reduce the burden of vacant properties on local government and municipalities.
- Supporting homeownership and affordable housingOperates programs to support homeownership by acquiring and rehabilitating properties, offering pathways for tenants to become homeowners, and increasing affordable housing opportunities in Cattaraugus County.
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
- Conducting community engagement for housing planningAdministers community outreach initiatives including four community meetings and an online housing survey launched in December 2025 to inform a Housing Needs Assessment and Action Plan. Published a video presentation from the 2025 Housing Study Workshop on YouTube.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Property rehabilitation and renovationPerforms or manages rehabilitation of distressed residential and commercial properties, including structural repairs and energy efficiency improvements, to prepare them for resale or long-term occupancy. Projects have been estimated between $26,830 and $50,000 in cost.
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financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$426K
Contributions & grants$236K55%
Program service revenue$190K45%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$257K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$542K
Cash$542K
Investments$0
Liabilities$27K
Net assets$515K
Liquid reserves25.3 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -37.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022
Who runs it
board members · 7
- Crystal Abers — Secretary
- Dan Martonis — Chairman
- David Koch — Vice Chairman
- Frank Higgins — Director
- Joe Snyder — Director
- Matthew Keller — Treasurer
- Richard Helmich — Director
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Acquisition/Disposition Committee Government — Internal committee responsible for reviewing property donation considerations and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.
- Cattaraugus County Government — Cattaraugus County is the sole member of the Corporation and appoints board members, indicating a governing and structural relationship.
- Cattaraugus County Government — Collaborates with Cattaraugus County on housing needs assessment and action planning.
- Cattaraugus County Government — Provides staff support to the Land Bank Corporation and collaborates on property revitalization and community development efforts.
- Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism Partner — Oversees and manages the day-to-day activities of the Cattaraugus County Land Bank.
- Cattaraugus County Dept. of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism Government — Host department providing administrative and operational support for the Land Bank
- Cattaraugus County Legislature Government — The County Legislature appoints four of the seven board members and must approve staffing, establishing a direct governance link.
- Cities, towns and villages within Cattaraugus County Partner — The Corporation actively consults with local municipalities on property acquisition and disposition and may adopt redevelopment plans in coordination with them.
- Contractors & Vendors (local) Partner — Local contractors and vendors who perform work for the Land Bank on property rehabilitation and maintenance projects.
- County of Cattaraugus Government — Created and governs the Cattaraugus County Land Bank Corporation through board appointments.
- Empire State Development Corporation Government — Manages the competitive application process for land bank creation under the New York State Land Bank Act.
- NYS Land Bank Act Government — Provides statutory authority enabling the land bank to clear liens and manage vacant properties.
- Stakeholders who value responsible land ownership Partner — Collaborates with stakeholders committed to responsible land ownership to redevelop underutilized properties and improve community conditions.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Land Reuse for Revitalizationmethodology: community-revitalization-through-land-reuseBy reclaiming vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties and aligning their redevelopment with community-informed planning and local government priorities, we reverse blight and generate community value because community-identified needs lead to more sustainable and equitable outcomes.
- Public Authority Model with Integrated Governancemethodology: public_authority land bank modelBy operating as a local public authority under the NYS Land Bank Act and integrating with county government infrastructure, we improve administrative efficiency and accountability because public-interest governance ensures alignment with community priorities and leverages existing systems.