Reining in vacant, underutilized, and derelict properties in Utica

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2025

Utica, NY — Mayor Michael Galime today, issues an update to City of Utica residents regarding ongoing efforts to address property maintenance issues, strengthen neighborhood quality of life, and ensure responsible property ownership through enhanced abatement processes.

Over the past two years, the City has seen a significant increase in abatements—cleanups initiated when property owners fail to maintain their lots after receiving notice. Abatements have risen by nearly 30 percent, resulting in approximately 162 additional property cleanouts each year. This increase reflects the City’s continued commitment to addressing blight swiftly and ensuring every neighborhood remains clean, safe, and livable.

In addition, appearance tickets, issued when property owners are required to appear in court for code violations, have increased by roughly 20 percent, adding about 19 more court cases annually. These measures reinforce the City’s focus on accountability and compliance.

Baseline Enforcement Statistics

• 2025 (Year-to-Date):

  • 488 abatements completed (on pace for 557 by year-end)

  • 74 appearance tickets issued (on pace for 82 by year-end)

• 2024:

  • 569 abatements issued

  • 75 appearance tickets issued

• 2023:

  • 395 abatements issued

  • 61 appearance tickets issued

Mayor Galime emphasized that these numbers show both an increase in enforcement activity and the City’s dedication to improving living conditions in every corner of Utica.

Property-Specific Enforcement Examples in 2025

The City continues to hold negligent property owners financially responsible for the cost of abatements, enhanced by newly established enforcement procedures in the City Code.  Of the many abatements, two strong examples are as follows.

• 1218 Court Street:  More than $3,400 will be billed to the property owner’s taxes for required cleanup and maintenance efforts.

• 248–250 Genesee Street:  Over $2,070 in abatement costs will be added to the property owner’s tax bill for the boarding of the building, required due to public safety issues.

“The ramp up of these Administrative efforts are direct work to clean up the City using to tools we already have.  The current Vacant Building Registry requires voluntary registration to be enforced, and the properties we are targeting are certainly not volunteering to pay additional fees for us to be their butler,” stated Mayor Galime.  “While we are now effectively reining in derelict properties, and applying the direct costs of the abatements to the tax bill, I still see value in a registry, however, offending properties should be placed on that list by us, based on offenses, and only removed once compliant.”  The Mayor continued stating that requested modifications to the current ordinances on the books will be presented to the council for consideration, and hopes to turn the registry into an enforceable ordinance that will enhance our ability to clean up the city.  The Mayor extends many thanks to the Codes, DPW, Parks, and UPD staff that have been dedicated to these efforts.