STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City records show Staten Island has 300 zombie properties that are a blight on communities across the borough.

But they might not languish in the often lengthy foreclosure process thanks to a new law signed late last month by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

The Zombie Property Remediation Act allows mortgage lenders to expedite foreclosure processes across New York City. The new law authorizes local governments to compel mortgage lenders to either complete a mortgage foreclosure proceeding, or to issue a certificate of discharge of the mortgage for any abandoned property.

“Zombie properties are plaguing communities all across our state, driving down property values and burdening our taxpayers,” Cuomo said. “By making it easier for local municipalities to deal with these abandoned and unmaintained properties, we are helping to preserve homes and protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

The governor’s office says thousands of abandoned properties are blights on communities throughout the state. When these properties fall into foreclosure, they often languish for a long period of time during the foreclosure process before government can step in. This new law makes it easier for municipalities to reclaim and redevelop zombie properties in order to return them to the property tax rolls.

LOCAL AGENCY

Locally, the agency that deals with zombie properties is the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

HPD -- which built a comprehensive database to identify and track zombie homes records -- shows there are at least 2,000 zombie homes in the city and at least 300 on Staten Island.

HPD also surveys neighborhoods to identify abandoned properties, develops policy strategies to return zombie homes to productive use, and does outreach to homeowners at risk of foreclosure, the agency said.

Members of the public can flag open, vacant buildings by calling 311. The city will seal up unguarded buildings or demolish structures deemed unsafe by DOB.

The civil penalty for a non-compliant mortgage holder of a zombie home is $500 per day, per property, according to HPD.

REDUCING S.I. ZOMBIE HOMES

Staten Island real estate professionals say the new law will hopefully diminish the number of zombie homes across the borough.

“This legislation is years overdue and will significantly improve neighborhoods that have been negatively impacted by these neglected properties,” said Jon Salmon, broker/owner of Salmon Real Estate, Castleton Corners.

Said Joan Camerlengo, broker/owner Joan Camerlengo Realty, New Dorp: “The enactment of this legislation is beneficial to the community at-large since it will force lenders to expedite the handling of foreclosure properties. This will have a positive effect on property values generally, since foreclosure properties will not be allowed to significantly deteriorate to the point of blight, thus devaluing whole neighborhoods.”

Relators say the new legislation will help avoid a long-time negative impact on real estate vales in a community where there is a zombie home.

“Governor Cuomo’s legislation will short circuit the normally protracted foreclosure process and move these properties much quicker to redevelopment,” James Prendamano, CEO of Casandra Properties, which has two Island-based offices.

“Without question, this will improve not only property values, but overall health and safety in our communities. It will be interesting to see cases where the government takes assets back and what that disposition process will look like. I would hope that local real estate brokerages would be included in that process,” he added.

2016 LAW PASSED

The new legislation isn’t the state’s first attempt to minimize New York’s zombie property problem. In 2016, Cuomo signed the Zombie Property and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which was supposed to hold mortgagees and lenders accountable for their properties, as well as help homeowners in danger of foreclosure become up-to-date on their payments. The law also established HPD’s Zombie Homes Initiative.

However, the Advance first followed up in 2017, one year after the law was passed, and the state had not yet issued a single penalty against a bank or mortgage to provide for failure to maintain and secure a property.

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