4
Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , June 15 , 2016
Land Bank project awarded $ 4.1M
By SHANTAL RILEY sriley @ tcnewspapers . com
A project of the Newburgh Community Land Bank will receive $ 4.1 million in funding for the renovation of 15 buildings in the city ’ s East End . The project calls for the construction of 46 affordable housing units . One will serve as a new police substation .
The joint land bank-RUPCO project includes buildings along Lander , Johnston , South Miller , Dubois and First streets . All of the buildings are currently vacant . “ Most of the buildings will have two to three units ,” said Newburgh Community Land Bank Executive Director Madeline Fletcher .
The funds will arrive in the form of tax credits from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal agency . Tax credits benefit non-profit developers in that they can be sold for equity , Fletcher said .
“ RUPCO will start working with the state to finalize plans and get the project ready for construction ,” said Fletcher . “ Once the financials are in place , we will transfer the buildings to RUPCO .”
Formed in 2012 , the land bank acquires distressed , vacant and abandoned properties to eliminate the barriers to redevelopment .
“ We did abatement , lead and asbestos remediation and stabilization work ,” Fletcher said . “ And , we ’ ve replaced
Continued from page 1
Christian Tejada , of Howard Beach , Queens . Rivera then supplied the drugs to Melvin , who distributed the heroin to other dealers . “ They supplied many of the street-level individuals ,” Hoovler said .
Six people are still being sought in connection to the drug ring , which saw a center of street activity on First Street near Carpenter Avenue . “ They took over the entire block ,” said City of Newburgh Police Chief Dan Cameron .
Loose heroin was also supplied to Melvin by Angel Rodriguez Jr . of the Bronx , said Hoovler . Some of the confiscated heroin was found to contain fentanyl , a powerful opioid drug coming to public attention recently due to a surge in use and overdose deaths .
Hoovler said the ring ’ s dealers made sales profits of 100 to 300 percent . “ There is no other business in our society that reaps a profit like that ,” he said . “ That is why they are mercenaries of death .”
Operation Punch Out included raids at the Newburgh Boxing Club , two residences , Sadeq ’ s Corner Deli and Allstar Barber Shop on First Street . In addition to the 1,000 bags of heroin , the operation netted 45 grams of loose heroin , 15 grams of cocaine , two handguns and $ 9,000 in cash , state police report .
When asked what city police were doing to reduce crime in the area moving forward , Cameron said there would be increased foot patrols and hot-spot details in the neighborhood . “ We ’ re moving in with code compliance to change these neighborhoods ,” Cameron said .
The New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team , New York State Police Troop F , the
A total of 15 buildings will be transformed into 46 affordable housing units in the city ’ s East End , north of Broadway .
roofs , done cleanups and structural work so the buildings didn ’ t deteriorate any further .”
Once the units are completed , they will be available to renters earning a maximum of 80 percent of the area median income , said Fletcher . Construction is expected to begin in the fall .
The project will generate local construction jobs through RUPCO , said Fletcher , but she couldn ’ t say how many .
The housing project supports the land bank ’ s focus on neighborhood revitalization in the city ’ s East End , north of Broadway . It has been approved by the City of Newburgh Planning Board , Zoning Board of Approvals and Architectural Review Commission .
Police bust city heroin ring
City of Newburgh Police Chief Dan Cameron speaks at a press conference following a drug bust last Tuesday . He is shown with Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler .
Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office , the Town and City of Newburgh Police , City of Middletown Police , Town of Woodbury Police , Town of New Windsor Police and the Westchester County Drug Enforcement Task Force participated in the operation .
In Brief
Fire destroys New Windsor home
A two-alarm fire in the Reserve housing development in Vails Gate Sunday night gutted a house on Forest Glen .
Firefighters were called to the scene around 7:30 p . m . All occupants escaped unharmed . The cause is under investigation .
New Windsor offers water for Newburgh ’ s pool
The New Windsor Town Board is reaching out to neighboring Newburgh , offering to provide 170,000 gallons of its own water to fill the city ’ s swimming pool this summer .
The city was not going to open it because of its ongoing water emergency . Under the terms of the emergency , pool filling and watering lawns are prohibited .
Mayor Judy Kennedy told the city council Monday that New Windsor Supervisor George Green offered the town water .
“ That is going to make it possible for us to open the pool and keep our own rules at the same time ,” Kennedy said . “ So a big thank you and a word of appreciation to our sister city to the south , for being a good neighbor and helping out the City of Newburgh .”
Four nabbed in prostitution sting
On June 8 , the Orange County Drug Task Force and the City of Newburgh Police Department conducted a joint prostitution sting in the City of Newburgh .
Arrested in the Prostitution Sting were : Heather Ann Lynch , 37 , Rita L . Lee Colandrea , 38 , and Susan M . Napp , 62 , all of Newburgh . All were charged with prostitution . In addition , Makensy Hyppolite , 26 , of Newburgh was charged with patronizing a prostitutes .
All defendants were held in the Newburgh Police Department holding cell , pending arraignment .
‘ Newburgh Rising ’ to be screened during Newburgh Illuminated
“ Newburgh Rising : The Photographers for Hope Journey ,” directed by Dean Goldberg , associate professor of communications at Mount Saint Mary College , will be screened on Saturday , June 18 at the Ritz Theater on Broadway .
Part of the Newburgh Illuminated Festival , the half-hour-long film will be presented at 1:30 p . m ., 3:30 p . m ., and 5:30 p . m .
The documentary follows nine photographers from around the globe as they descend on Newburgh to capture the city through their own personal perspectives . Led by photojournalist David Burnett and his wife Iris , a political writer and lecturer , The Photographers for Hope emerged with a panoramic and engaging exhibition .