Mount Vernon moves to sell multiple long-held city properties in first public phase

The Board of Estimate and Contract approved a block of ordinances on Oct. 14 authorizing sales or conveyances of multiple city-owned properties that the city said have been in inventory since before 2014.

The real estate items (agenda items 11–17) were taken together and approved by roll call. Addresses listed during the meeting included 106 Hillside Ave.; 224 North Seventh Ave.; 234 East Fifth St.; 328 South First Ave.; 331 South Second Ave.; 467 East Fifth St.; and conveyance of 16 Glen Ave. to Shane Black of SD Management NY LLC. The clerk noted that the agenda did not list purchaser names for several items and that the full ordinance and resolution documents contain purchaser names and prices.

Why it matters: Staff said many of the properties had been idle in the city's inventory for a decade or longer. Returning the properties to private ownership is intended to move properties back into development or private maintenance and remove the city from acting as a long-term landlord.

What board members heard: A city official explained that staff spent nearly four years reconciling records, reviewing prior auction and bidding files, gathering proof of funds from bidders, and performing title checks. The official said some legal uncertainty required waiting for state-level guidance after a U.S. Supreme Court decision changed how related title questions were handled; staff then consulted with the corporation counsel before proceeding.

Staff emphasized purchasers take properties “as is” and are responsible for any title work or remedial matters discovered after purchase. The clerk additionally said the ordinance documents include price and purchaser details for record-keeping even when the agenda line did not show them.

Fiscal note: In the meeting record a staff speaker stated a combined figure for the property-sales package “totally altogether” of about $22,300,000. The spoken figure was presented as an aggregate estimate and not broken down item-by-item in the oral record; the ordinance/resolution paperwork contains the full price and purchaser details.

Next steps: Staff said this vote represents a first phase; additional properties still on the city’s inventory are expected to go to public auction in later phases. The Real Estate Committee and City Clerk were directed to complete conveyances and remit proceeds to the city’s ledger.

Provenance: Discussion and the block vote on items 11–17 appear in the meeting transcript where the real estate items are introduced and where staff explains the bidding, title review and auction history.