The city has held five tax title auctions since 2007.
This home at 90 Beverly Dr., Westfield, was sold Wednesday in a tax tiltle auction by the city. Here, Westfield building inspector Jonathan Flagg waits for any interested parties who might want to view the property Monday.WESTFIELD – This city picked up $63,000 in its effort to restore a residential parcel on Beverly Drive to the active property tax roles.
That was the amount, about $3,000 more than what the city was owed in back taxes and interest, paid by former Building Inspector Donald York at a public auction at City Hall Wednesday.
“Rehabilitation,” was York’s immediate reaction to his successful bid.
“I’ll open it up, dry it out and then evaluate” he said of his next move for the single family home at 90 Beverly Dr.
City officials acknowledge the deteriorated condition of the small ranch style home after years of neglect, but note its location on a corner lot should make attractive as a new residence for new owners. The home is located on Beverly Drive at the corner with Barbara Street.
“It is deteriorated,” said acting Building Inspector Jonathan S. Flagg at an open house held on site Monday.
York said he was drawn to the auction because of the property’s “availability and future potential. There is potential because property values in the area,” which he estimated at between $180,000 to $225,000.
Assistant City Solicitor Shanna R. Reed said she was “pleased” with auction results, adding the Law Department is currently working on about six similar parcels headed towards the tax foreclosure process.
“The city did very well,” said Reed.
City Treasurer Gregory I. Kallfa, the city’s tax title custodian, agreed. “We were able to pick up what was owed and we put the property back on the tax roles.
“It was nice to see that a couple people were interested,” said Kallfa, noting the bidding process drew competition from three bidders.
“This is a nice neighborhood. The property is also located to schools,” Kallfa said. Both Southampton Road Elementary and North Middle School are nearby.
Back taxes and interest owed Westfield for the 90 Beverly Dr. parcel amounted to $59,772. York is not responsible for that bill since the property was auctioned “free and clear” of municipal liens.
Reed said the city acquired the property through tax title in 2009. Property taxes had not been paid since 1998, she said.
The Beverly Drive property is the latest to be auctioned by the city because of tax foreclosure.
In March a singe-family home at 21 Miller St. fetched $67,000 when Roman Moshlousky successfully out bid several other interested persons.
In 2007, property at 15 Lynnwood Dr. was sold at auction for $151,000 while that same year the city auctioned the former Westfield Woodworking Co. on Coleman Avenue for $225,000.
In 2009, a single-family home at 16 Clinton Ave. drew a high bid of $23,000.
The Beverly Drive parcel has an appraised land value of $85,700. It is a one-story, two bedroom, five room home with a screen porch at the rear.