Five recent housing demolitions cost the city more than $200,000.

According to the minutes of a recent City Council Housing Committee meeting, the city has torn down five homes in recent weeks – two on Spring Street, two on Tower Street and one on Forest Avenue. Three of the homes were torn down due to fires while the other two were torn down because they were on the city’s demolition list and were in close proximity to the home damaged by fire.

Crystal Surdyk, city development director, told council members the average cost of $40,000 per demolition was a bit higher than average because of the three emergency demolitions.

There may be a second opportunity for city residents who didn’t receive money through an ARPA-funded roof replacement program.

During the City Council’s most recent Housing Committee meeting, Surdyk told council members that 99 ARPA roofs have been completed with 15 more in progress. The department has noticed that the average cost per roof is $18,644, which has allowed for the completion of 147 roofs, versus the original calculation of 120 roof projects.

Surdyk said there is still a large list of properties that didn’t make the first-round cut that could be reconsidered after the first round of projects is complete. Secondary inspections will occur prior to approving additional roofs. Only architectural shingles are allowed in the program, metal roofs are not considered.

Surdyk also told council members that the ARPA mini matching grant program, which provided $2,500 for smaller projects, is ongoing. Through mid-June, $281,000 of the $530,000 approved amount has been spent. There have been 212 approved homes for the program.

Council members were also approached by a city resident about basketball hoops being left in city rights of ways. Jeff Englund of 42 Sampson St., Jamestown, appeared before the Housing Committee to discuss the basketball hoops that are set up in the street against the curb. There are many people who play basketball in the street at all hours of the day and night.

Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5 and committee chairman, said the Jamestown Police Department’s nuisance officer can help with the noise and nuisance. Depending on the location of the basketball hoop, it can be removed nightly.

Englund cited the Syracuse City Code which outlaws curbside basketball hoops. Surdyk said her department is aware of the issue and has already met with Englund. She also said a new Zoning Code update might be able to assist in such cases depending on how it is written or introduced. Surdyk said she will follow up with Mark Roetzer regarding the hoop being placed in the right of way.