Rescue Me: 279 Grand Street Newburgh

279 Grand Street Newburgh

This row home on Grand Street has all kinds of lovely details that are decaying by the minute from lack of maintenance. According to a source it’s probably a total shell, but wasn’t 7 years ago. After going through Orange County Property Tax Records, it looks like Lemuel Benitez owns the property. He still lives in Newburgh too. The property was bought for $43,000 on 8/1/2003 and even sold for $1 back in 2000. The for sale sign has a phone number, which unfortunately we didn’t get. If any body passes by, please leave a comment with the phone #. This really could be such a gorgeous home, and this section of Grand Street (map) could certainly use the love. Check out this restoration of a home exterior similar in style.

Newburgh is New York State’s second largest historic district after NYC. Newburgh literally has hundreds of dilapidated and abandoned buildings just begging for someone to come scoop them up and restore them. I’ll continue to post my own photos, but if you have a particular building you would like to see saved, email me the photo of any building you appreciate that you would like to see rescued!

Photo ©Catherine Mouttet

Here is the Zillow listing for the house that is now outdated. It looks like they are trying to sell it themselves now.

6 Comment

  • Re: 279 Grand Street

    FYI, Bentley Realtor had taken owership of this property in May 2012, prior to this article. Your information is not accurate. Therefore, Mr. Benitez is not responsible for this property. Before you publish an article, please make sure your information is correct.
    Thank you.

    • FYI, the information was provided from the Orange County Tax Records. If the information was incorrect, then the tax records had not been updated.

      • The tax records appear updated. the PRIOR owner is named and the sale date in 2012 appears on the Orange County system along with many other properties included in the total sale. It’s great that the city now can approach Bentley Realtor to follow up on these properties. It would be good to see a plan from the current owner of those properties. Newburgh city residents would welcome that!

  • I think that it likely is a toxic enviromental hazard with open broken windows with hazardous glass hanging there ready to fall out,likely bat and rodent infestation as the structure is totally open to the elements, metal has been salvaged–no more iron on the stoop or the front–one last panel left so likely no more inside???, there is a pit in the back yard which is full of refuse from the 281 Grand St building tenants who started dumping there earlier in 2014, info a recent conversation with a building professional who mentioned that there is significant mold in the bottom level—we understand that there was a fire there at some point. I do not see any electrical boxes in order…..Looks like the only thing that can be salvaged out of it will be the brick structure….I think that when buildings need so much from deferred maintenance, there should be an IMMEDIATE tax reduction while the mechanicals get brought back up to code. To do otherwise creates a structure that will be falling down and abandoned as the financials do not offer an upside that makes sense and DEMANDING these high taxes from people who are coming in to invest in restorations is not the right way to do things. I suggest a tax holiday on any building that requires a significant capital repair. Watch the economy boom in City of Newburgh if that happens. People who face a horrible bill for fixing a roof, sewer, plumbing, electric, boiler, chimney vents, should be let off the high taxes hook while they finance the repairs…..The taxes are simply killing everyone.

    • A “tax holiday” for newbies will transfer costs to the existing property owners (think PILOTS, Shovel Ready Prep,etc.) . Besides, this concept already exists as the Land Bank. Further, it’s interesting that the ‘City (aka taxpayer) is exempt from property taxes on its vacant property but is still liable for school taxes. Hmmmm. When did the concepts of ‘pay to play’ & ‘risk w/ reward’ get thrown out with the bath water? Ponying up two grand a year (279 Grand) to pay for community services while one renovates their perceived asset is a bargain. Another bribe of amnesty for a select at the cost of austerity for the majority? I don’t think so.
      I refer you to the charts on pages 9 and 10 to ascertain for yourself why “taxes are simply killing everyone” despite the ‘City’s poor condition. Hint: only 6% of its budget can be allocated to the maintenance, repair and improvement of its tangibles . The tangible Newburgh is literally imploding as the intangibles become over bearing.
      http://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/sites/newburghny/files/managers_proposed_budget_for_fy-2014.pdf

  • My brother lived on the top floor of this building in the 80’s. It was a beautiful building with beautiful apartments.. Such a shame it’s in the state it’s in today.