Spring is in the air, giving many of us the urge to clean up our living spaces – indoors and out. However, the Town of Thompson Building, Planning, and Zoning Department engages in large scale “spring cleaning” year round, focusing on unsafe buildings.

In the past five years, over 120 unsafe and damaged structures have been removed, primarily at the owner’s expense. Join us for an up-close look at this effort that’s transforming the view of our Town…

Unsafe and Unsightly: Why Removing Abandoned, Neglected Properties is a Town Priority

Imagine you’re a first-time visitor to the Town of Thompson.

Maybe you’ve thought about opening a business here, or purchasing a home. You’re driving on 17B and start noticing a high amount of both commercial and residential vacant properties. Some buildings have roofs caving in, others lack windows.

Now imagine, what is your overall impression of the Town of Thompson? Likely, it’s not very positive.

As Town residents, these neglected buildings are frustrating for us to see as well, especially when we take pride in so many other aspects of our community. We’re also concerned about the safety of anyone entering these properties, which are not structurally sound.

Finally, managing blighted buildings and eyesores is not an issue unique to the Town of Thompson. Neighboring townships and municipalities within the Catskills and Hudson Valley region are facing challenges with how to manage abandoned properties.

Winning the Fight Against Blight

The Town of Thompson Building, Planning, and Zoning Department has always been involved in a “fight against blight.” However, in recent years, the Town became more intensely focused on removing dilapidated unsafe buildings,

But where was the Town to begin? The Sullivan County Grow the Gateways project provided valuable insight on which properties to tackle first. The Gateways project focused on 4 major corridors with high visibility: Route 42 (North and South), 17B, and East Broadway.

Overall, the Town made a list of about 200 properties that required removal – both within the 4 major corridors as well as other areas throughout the Town of Thompson. In just a few years, many of these buildings are now completely gone – most of them removed at little or no cost to the Town (and taxpayers like you).

Currently, the Town is aggressively addressing the remaining 80 or so buildings. So how did the Town of Thompson begin winning the battle of the blight?

Urging Property Owners to Participate

For the most part, no property owner sets out planning to abandon their property. Perhaps a business failed or a family member passed away who was responsible for its upkeep. The Town of Thompson recognizes that human hardship is often behind these crumbling buildings.

That’s why the Building, Planning, and Zoning Department starts by simply contacting the owners of these buildings, alerting them that their property is unsafe or has become an eyesore. Often, owners show a readiness to cooperate – and recognize that their buildings are their responsibilities. If that’s the case, these building owners begin the process of “voluntary compliance” to either improve or tear down their structures. The Town then gives the building owner a timeline for completion.

Sometimes it also helps to convince a property owner that it’s worth the money to tear down their building. For example, there is no logic in paying property taxes on a structure that is not inhabitable. It would make more financial sense to invest in a one-time fee for demolition, removal, and cleanup of the structure – and then have the building removed from the assessed property value.

From Eyesore to Elimination: The Process Can Take 5-6 Months

Of the nearly 90 buildings that were recently demolished, only about 6 or 7 required the Town of Thompson to intervene and complete the building removal. In the case of a building that poses an immediate danger to the public, the Town may use statutory authority to remove the building right away. Otherwise, it can take up to 6 months for the Town to remove a blighted building – even if everyone is moving as quickly as possible to get the job done.

It all begins when the Town alerts the property owner that their building is unsafe and must be either fixed or torn down. The owner is given a public hearing and there is often a legal process that is undertaken to formally declare a property unsafe. If the property owner refuses to cooperate, the Town takes over. The building must first be tested for asbestos, if any is found, it must be abated. Then, the demolition goes out to bid to qualified contractors. Finally, the building is scheduled for removal which is usually after 5-6 months from the initial contact with the owner.

In these instances – when an owner will not cooperate – the Town of Thompson initially covers the demolition and removal costs. Then, these fees are re-levied onto the property owners tax bill so the Town can recoup the costs.

In addition, the Sullivan County Planning Department recognizes that it can be a financial hardship on townships facing costs to remove blighted buildings. That’s why the Planning Department invites townships to apply for grant funding through the Remove Unsafe Structures (RUSt) program. This program helps to subsidize and offset many of the costs of demolition and removal.

What You Can Do to Help Create a New View of Thompson

As residents or business owners in the Town of Thompson, we can keep an eye out for buildings that are rapidly deteriorating. If you spot a property that appears unsafe or in very poor condition, simply fill out and send in this Town of Thompson Eyesore Report Sheet. You may remain 100% anonymous!

If you own a building that is uninhabited, it’s your responsibility to care for that property. Ensure it is sealed to the elements and locked to prevent any trespassing. Post signs that clearly state it is private property. If you believe your building is unsafe, contact the Town of Thompson Building, Planning, and Zoning Department about your options for improvement or demolition.

Here at the Town of Thompson, our goal is to help our area look its best by removing eyesores such as deteriorated or damaged structures. We also understand that abandoned buildings pose a safety risk, and it’s critical that we take action to remove buildings that threaten the wellbeing of our community.