Built between 1867 and 1869 as the Universalist Church and housing the United Methodist Church for much of the 20th century, the church building at 448 Warren Street was the subject today of a Facebook post by The Hudson Valley Explorer, who speculates of the building, "It might just be one big birdhouse at this point."
The building is owned by a limited liability corporation called Otera. Many of us know the human behind that LLC is the artist David Hammons. The building was purchased in March 2014, and, in September 2014, what was described as a "complete and accurate restoration" of the building commenced. The brick was repointed by an award-winning masonry contractor who had also done work at Olana. Brownstone needed for repairs was imported from England because it was most like the brownstone available in this country in the 1860s. The restoration was promised to be "absolutely in kind."
The last work done on the building happened in 2016, when the missing steeple, which had been purposely removed in 1971 out of concern about liability should the steeple topple in a storm, as others in the city had, was replaced with a simple cap.
For the past ten years, the building was been abandoned and neglected. Currently, $359,763.89 is owed in back taxes and penalties. The building is on the delinquent tax list and scheduled for foreclosure.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
The City owes itself $200k for 98 Paddock? What’s that about?
ReplyDeleteYou're clearly coming a bit late to this party, Michael B. The City foreclosed on the house in 2017, but the owner declared bankruptcy and then there was the pandemic and god knows what else, so the owner did not vacate the house until late in 2025. So, although the City now owns the house, the back taxes are still owed because the house has not been sold. Last I heard, it was going to be sold in April https://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/2026/02/update-on-those-delinquent-property.html, but it seems that didn't happen.
DeleteHaha, did you just try to shame me for not memorizing every single one of your blog posts? Good grief, lady.
DeleteNo. I was answering your question. Next time I won't bother.
DeleteArrogant ignorance — the worst kind of stupid.
DeleteSince the starting bid will go up every time the back taxes owed go up, the city should giddy up here. The building itself is in pretty deplorable state and the buyer will first have to dejunk it in addition to fixing all the other stuff that's broken.
DeleteAs is, this is not a particularly attractive property and it gets less attractive the longer the city waits with the foreclosure auction.
another case of semi anonymous posting on this site. Everyone should have to show their full name. if they can’t fully stand behind their postings, then we shouldn’t have to read them. I call for a complete removal of ALL user names that don’t identify the poster.
ReplyDeleteI was asked to weigh in on 98 Paddock, presumably because I'd done so before regarding cleaning the building out. Unfortunately, I don't have much to add here.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, properties transferred to municipalities through a tax foreclosure do not continue to accrue additional taxes and interest. It seems that 98 Paddock /is/ accruing these fees, given the ~$15,000 difference between 2025's tax bill and 2026's. The amount of taxes owed ($200,000) relative to the property's assessed value ($233,000) is also noteworthy. It appears that the deed to the property transferred to the City in 2017. How long the previous owner had not been paying taxes, I do not know. Given the taxes owed, it would seem to have been quite some time (possibly 15+ years).
This seems like a question for the City Treasurer.
And those of us who loyally pay our property taxes are speechless.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it would be useful for the City to have some kind of legislation in place that would force deadbeat property owners to deal with their issues before it gets to the foreclosure stage.
ReplyDeleteHere's another one (#330 Warren) that has been an eyesore in our community for years...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.loopnet.com/property/330-warren-st-hudson-ny-12534/36021-10060010904400030520000000/
Already sold.
DeleteCan't stop private capital in America.