housing

The city of Elmira repealed a law that created a public list of rental property owners with code violations. The city is replacing that list with a report on housing in the community.

Accessory dwelling units are small houses or apartments built alongside a primary home on a residential lot. Council members are divided on some of the potential changes.

Upstate communities can opt into the new statewide legislation. The protections automatically give tenants who follow their leases the option to renew, under most circumstances.

The new law requires the city to release a monthly list of owners with rental properties that are not properly registered and inspected, or have code violations.

Governor Kathy Hochul wants to build a lot of affordable housing, but she says there are barriers to that unless developers are offered tax breaks.

"We're taking these [properties] and viewing them as opportunities."

One Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' family said they believe the surprise demolition of their grandmother's home was an act of retaliation for their past criticism of Halftown.

The proposal would prohibit landlords from renting to groups of four or more students in areas zoned as single-family and two-family residential.

It was approved in a rare bipartisan move by the legislature.

“It’ll make homes less affordable than they already are, and that’s already an issue that we have in the city."