Code enforcement is one the essential services offered by our city. According to the City of Troy’s website “The Bureau of Code Enforcement administers the city's building construction, permitting and housing inspection programs. Under these programs the Bureau is responsible for the enforcement of all state and local codes as well as the city's zoning ordinance. Typical functions of the Bureau include issuance of building permits, performance of construction and housing inspections, vacant building inspections and issuance of certificates of occupancy and compliance.” In other words code enforcement keeps our city safe, clean, and orderly. As you can imagine it’s a tough task keeping an urban environment with numerous socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods. There are many reasonable influences that cause “code” issues. The list includes reasoning’s such as the current economic condition, a transient population, absentee landlords, and an aging housing stock.
The federal government through, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilitate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for local municipalities. The program's purpose is the development of viable urban communities for low-and moderate income persons through the provision of the following: 1) Decent housing, 2) A suitable living environment, and 3) Economic opportunity.
The City of Troy receives approximately $2.5 million annually from HUD. These funds are allocated to numerous citywide projects that fall within a target zone. The target zone is determined by the city administration through the development of a 5 Year Action Plan. The target zone must be within HUD’s qualifying census tracts which are determined through the census and based upon income.
One of the programs that is facilitated and paid for utilizing these federal CDBG funds is called the Neighborhood Improvement through Code Enforcement program (NICE). The approach this code enforcement program takes is aimed at achieve results in a timely manner. Over a specific period of time City Code Officers, whose sole responsibility is to conduct this program, will inspect the exterior of every property within the target area. If a violation is found the property owners will be notified instantly.
Once notified of the violation the property owner has 30 days to begin the repair, cleaning, or painting work that is needed for the property to be brought up to code. Property owners who fail to respond to City notices of violation will be ticketed after 30 days, brought to Code Enforcement Court, and be fined appropriately.
There have been 10 target areas from South Troy to Lansingburgh over the past eight years. Last year, our neighborhood group worked with Mayor Tutunjian to secure the NICE program for 2nd Avenue and 5th Avenue in Lansingburgh from 116th Street to Northern Drive. Personally, I believe the effectiveness of the program speaks for itself. Below are the statistics per target area, you can draw your own conclusions, however.
From the data shown below, for the total program history, there have been 3,526 properties inspected. Initially, just 42% of them where in code compliance (1,471 properties). Within the 30 day notification period 1,055 of those 2,055 found in violation started work to be come code compliant. At the end of the day, realizing that the data is still incomplete for the 2010-11 target areas, 72% of the properties inspected within the target areas are code compliant, a 71% increase from the initial compliance properties and this number will grow as the current programs expire. These are great results that will become greater!
| Beman Park-Hillside | S. Lansingburgh - North Central | |
| Year | 2003-04 | 2005-06 |
| # properties inspected | 390 | 628 |
| # initially comply | 138 | 156 |
| % comply | 35% | 25% |
| # respond or began work w/in 30 days | 158 | 115 |
| # court appearance notices sent | 93 | 127 |
| final # in comply | 335 | 524 |
| % final in comply | 86% | 83% |
| 5th Ave tgt blocks | South Central | |
| Year | 2005-06 | 2006-08 |
| # properties inspected | 44 | 530 |
| # initially comply | 18 | 291 |
| % comply | 41% | 55% |
| # respond or began work w/in 30 days | 16 | 134 |
| # court appearance notices sent | 10 | 45 |
| final # in comply | 34 | 477 |
| % final in comply | 77% | 90% |
| S. Troy Osgood | Burgh 2nd & 5th (104th -116th St.) | |
| Year | 2008-09 | 2008-09 |
| # properties inspected | 249 | 317 |
| # initially comply | 128 | 171 |
| % comply | 51% | 54% |
| # respond or began work w/in 30 days | 76 | 88 |
| # court appearance notices sent | 34 | 51 |
| final # in comply | 205 | 259 |
| % final in comply | 82% | 82% |
| S. Troy | North Central | |
| Year | 2009-10 | 2009-10 |
| # properties inspected | 511 | 334 |
| # initially comply | 193 | 156 |
| % comply | 38% | 47% |
| # respond or began work w/in 30 days | 132 | 107 |
| # court appearance notices sent | 113 | 90 |
| final # in comply | 433 | 263 |
| % final in comply | 85% | 79% |
| S. Troy Hillside | Burgh 2nd & 5th (116th St.-Northern) | |
| Year | 2010-11 | 2010-11 |
| # properties inspected | 261 | 262 |
| # initially comply | 97 | 123 |
| % comply | 37% | 47% |
| # respond or began work w/in 30 days | 131 | 98 |
| # court appearance notices sent | 33 | 27 |
| final # in comply | TBD | TBD |
| % final in comply | TBD | TBD |
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