[Adopted FCB 9-1-2006 (Title 4, Ch. 4.40, of the 1986 Code)]
This article is adopted pursuant to the authority of MGL c. 60,
§ 62A, as amended, which authorizes municipalities to enact
ordinances to authorize payment agreements between the City Treasurer/Collector
and persons entitled to redeem parcels in tax title.
The purpose and intent of this article is to foster the collection of unpaid taxes and assessments, promote neighborhood stability and reinvestment and to reduce the large numbers of vacant and blighted conditions that contribute to the decline of neighborhoods. The City finds that certain neighborhoods have been adversely affected by the existence of substantial numbers of vacant and blighted properties, and the creation of this program would promote home ownership by owner-occupied residents as well as provide these neighborhoods with an economic stimulus and stability. Therefore, the City finds the blighted properties in the neighborhoods set out in § 355-14 of this chapter require significant rehabilitation, reconstruction or demolition to provide owner-occupied housing in decent, safe and sanitary conditions. The City further finds and determines that such a program will forestall the costs and consequences of property tax foreclosure actions and will assist delinquent taxpayers in meeting their obligations to the City while securing, expediting and expanding owner-occupied home ownership. During the term of any Urban Pioneer municipal tax repayment agreement, and provided that certain conditions listed below are met, the City Treasurer/Collector may not bring an action to foreclose the tax title account unless the taxpayer fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement.
A.
All purchasers may enter into an Urban Pioneer municipal tax repayment
agreement, provided that, upon execution of such agreement with the
City Treasurer/Collector, the purchaser shall make a minimum payment
of 25% of the total amount required to redeem the parcel.
B.
The City Treasurer/Collector may enter into an Urban Pioneer municipal tax repayment agreement between the City, the seller, and the purchaser to waive for the seller 50% of the interest that has accrued to that date on the amount of the tax title account, and establish a payment plan for the purchaser in consideration of the purchaser maintaining residency in the property for five years as set forth in Subsection C, and such other conditions as the City Treasurer may deem appropriate.
C.
The term of an Urban Pioneer municipal tax repayment agreement may not exceed five years for an owner-occupied purchaser. During the five-year term of the agreement, the purchaser must occupy the parcel for the entire term, except as set forth in Subsection D below, and the purchaser must make timely payments of all taxes, fees, charges, licenses, or any other indebtedness, if any, and must remain current on all other taxes, fees, charges, licenses, or any other indebtedness owed to the City. Failure to stay current on all other taxes, fees, charges, licenses or any other indebtedness owed to the City shall be deemed a violation of the agreement and shall result in the termination of the agreement.
D.
The Urban Pioneer municipal tax repayment agreement shall be available
to any purchaser of a residential property of fewer than four units,
who agrees to occupy the residential property as his/her principal
place of residence for the entire five years. No Urban Pioneer municipal
tax repayment agreement shall be entered into with a prior owner or
to an agent, representative, or straw of the prior owner or any other
person connected with the prior owner of the property. In the event
improvements are required on the property in order to secure a certificate
of occupancy, a purchaser shall have 12 months from the date of the
repayment agreement to obtain a certificate of occupancy and may,
within 18 months of date of the repayment agreement and with the approval
of the Treasurer/Collector, transfer the property to a subsequent
owner-occupant for the duration of the five-year term.
The neighborhood boundaries for this program are as follows:
beginning along the Connecticut River at the City line between Springfield
and Chicopee; thence running southerly along the Connecticut River;
thence running northeasterly along Interstate 291; thence running
southeasterly on Chestnut Street; thence running southwesterly on
Stockbridge Street; thence running southwesterly on Bliss Street;
thence running northwesterly along Interstate 91; thence running southwesterly
on State Street; thence running southerly along the Connecticut River;
thence running northeasterly on Union Street; thence running southeasterly
along East Columbus Avenue; thence running northeasterly on Fremont
Street; thence running southerly on Main Street; thence running northeasterly
on Central Street; thence running southeasterly on Maple Street; thence
running southerly on Pine Street; thence running westerly on Mill
Street; thence running southerly on East Columbus Avenue; thence running
easterly on Main Street; thence running southerly on Longhill Street;
thence running easterly on Leete Street; thence running southerly
on Fort Pleasant Avenue; thence running southeasterly on Forest Park
Avenue; thence running northeasterly on Woodside Terrace; thence running
southeasterly on Belmont Avenue; thence running easterly on Sumner
Avenue; thence running northwesterly along the former Highland Division
Rail Road; thence running northeasterly along Watershops Pond; thence
running westerly on Wilbraham Road; thence running northwesterly on
Roosevelt Avenue; thence running northeasterly on State Street; thence
running northeasterly on Berkshire Avenue; thence running northerly
on Marsden Street; thence running southeasterly on Bay Street; thence
running northeasterly on Boston Road; thence running easterly on Fargo
Street; thence running southerly on Almira Road; thence running westerly
on Joanne Street; thence running southerly on Spear Road; thence running
easterly on Sunrise Terrace; thence running northeasterly along the
north branch of the Mill River; thence running northerly on Parker
Street; thence running easterly on Boston Road; thence running southeasterly
on Fernbank Road; thence running northerly along the City line between
Springfield and Wilbraham; thence running northwesterly along the
Chicopee River; thence running southwesterly along the City line between
Springfield and Chicopee; thence running southwesterly along Interstate
291; thence running southerly along St. James Avenue; thence running
southwesterly along the Boston/Maine Rail Road; thence running northwesterly
on Armory Street; thence running southwesterly on Prospect Street;
thence running northerly on Chestnut Street; thence running northerly
along Interstate 91; thence running southwesterly along the City line
between Springfield and Chicopee to the point of beginning.
