Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced that $60,000 from the Capital Region Land Bank was used for the demolition of 42-48 Forbes Street in the city of Amsterdam. The demolition of these three properties is the beginning of a larger plan that the city and Capital Region Land Bank envision for the continued revitalization of downtown Amsterdam.

“I'm so very proud to support on-going efforts to revitalize our neighborhoods and strengthen our community,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “The Capital Region Land Bank initiative continues to strengthen our neighborhoods and remove blight here in the city of Amsterdam.”

These funds were awarded under the Land Bank Community Revitalization Initiative established in 2013 with funding secured through settlements from the New York State Office of the Attorney General. Land bank programs act as an economic and community development tool to revitalize neighborhoods, attracting new business, protecting residents by discouraging criminal activity and decreasing the costs to local police and fire departments. With this new funding, the Capital Region Land Bank will strategically target revitalization efforts in communities challenged by high poverty and vacancy rates, including Amsterdam's East End.

“The Land Bank initiative continues to improve neighborhoods across the State and we are seeing the progress first-hand in cities like Amsterdam,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “Identifying and demolishing vacant and abandoned properties is critically important to the future success of our upstate communities,” Santabarbara added. “I know that in the Capital Region we have strong partnerships committed to strengthening our neighborhoods, protecting our residents and attracting new business.”