When landlord Paul Bryan talks to renters about the properties they previously saw, Bryan doesn't like what he hears.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Mimi and George Bryan sit in their Sennett home, that was recently converted from a barn. The Bryans moved to the area from downstate and have purchased rental properties in Auburn.
Mimi and George Bryan sit in their Sennett home, that was recently converted from a barn. The Bryans moved to the area from downstate and have purchased rental properties in Auburn.
“Typically, they say it's the first nice apartment they see,” Bryan said.
With new residents arriving in Auburn to start businesses like Circuit City and Buffalo Wild Wings - as well as police and firemen facing substandard choices of places to live in the city they serve - Bryan wanted to improve the area's renting options.
In the case of the run-down old church rectory building-turned-apartment on 182 VanAnden St., Bryan looked to his parents, George and Mimi, for help converting it into a decent domicile.
“At first it was a nightmare,” Mimi said. “It was pretty disastrous.”
After replacing its roof, refrigerators, bathrooms, 40 windows, electrical work and plumbing, Paul has rented two of the seven spaces in the building.
“The police officer who covers the area was there, and he was very favorably impressed,” Mimi said.
George added, “It's fun to see something good come out of it.”
The Bryans hope to eventually offer - at a discounted price - the remaining apartments to the city's police force and firemen who wish to flee unfavorable living conditions. The family is awaiting word from city hall on possible help making this arrangement.
Both George and Mimi hope their work can contribute to the quality of life in Auburn by counteracting landlords who let their properties fall into disrepair.
“So many aspects of Auburn are really solid and worthwhile, the museums and the historic homes are part of the civic life of the community,” Mimi said. “But there are also run-down properties and unemployment, and it's hard to get started.”
The Bryans see many parallels between Auburn and their former residence. The two came to Auburn in September 2006 from Piermont, a small village in Rockland County. Both communities employed a significant quantity of its citizens at factories that recently closed.
In Piermont, the Bryans spent years working with fellow residents to improve the village's residences and encourage local business growth.
“At the time, one gas station and several bars were the only things making money,” Mimi said.
A fire at a dilapidated three-story apartment house, caused by residents warming their home with an open oven, awoke the Bryans to the need for change in their community. They gathered with a group of fellow residents to buy the building, fix up the space and rent it back to new tenants.
The Bryans and fellow community members also organized a craft fair for Piermont's artistic community and worked to attract new businesses to storefront properties.
“Within a matter of months the stores filled up, and, partly for that reason, Piermont became the place to be,” Mimi said. “Property values went up.”
Mimi continued this work from 1974 to 1981 as mayor of Piermont - the first female in the county to be elected to the office. Her election was made difficult by the village's composition of Italian families who could trace several generations in the town. Bryan, a Philadelphia native, was neither an Italian nor a long-time resident. She attributes her victory to the support of the outgoing mayor, Amarico DeFrancesca.
Following her three terms, Mimi continued to watch her community prosper. The closed factory property was eventually turned into condominiums, and Piermont's proximity to New York City made it an ideal home for commuters.
After leaving Piermont for Auburn, George and Mimi hope that by helping Paul, they can leave their new home a better place than it was before they arrived - starting with the house at 182 VanAnden St.
“There are a lot of poorly maintained apartments in Auburn, and we're trying to do the opposite,” Paul said. “We'd like to give the people who serve our community a decent place to live.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
With new residents arriving in Auburn to start businesses like Circuit City and Buffalo Wild Wings - as well as police and firemen facing substandard choices of places to live in the city they serve - Bryan wanted to improve the area's renting options.
In the case of the run-down old church rectory building-turned-apartment on 182 VanAnden St., Bryan looked to his parents, George and Mimi, for help converting it into a decent domicile.
“At first it was a nightmare,” Mimi said. “It was pretty disastrous.”
After replacing its roof, refrigerators, bathrooms, 40 windows, electrical work and plumbing, Paul has rented two of the seven spaces in the building.
“The police officer who covers the area was there, and he was very favorably impressed,” Mimi said.
George added, “It's fun to see something good come out of it.”
The Bryans hope to eventually offer - at a discounted price - the remaining apartments to the city's police force and firemen who wish to flee unfavorable living conditions. The family is awaiting word from city hall on possible help making this arrangement.
Both George and Mimi hope their work can contribute to the quality of life in Auburn by counteracting landlords who let their properties fall into disrepair.
“So many aspects of Auburn are really solid and worthwhile, the museums and the historic homes are part of the civic life of the community,” Mimi said. “But there are also run-down properties and unemployment, and it's hard to get started.”
The Bryans see many parallels between Auburn and their former residence. The two came to Auburn in September 2006 from Piermont, a small village in Rockland County. Both communities employed a significant quantity of its citizens at factories that recently closed.
In Piermont, the Bryans spent years working with fellow residents to improve the village's residences and encourage local business growth.
“At the time, one gas station and several bars were the only things making money,” Mimi said.
A fire at a dilapidated three-story apartment house, caused by residents warming their home with an open oven, awoke the Bryans to the need for change in their community. They gathered with a group of fellow residents to buy the building, fix up the space and rent it back to new tenants.
The Bryans and fellow community members also organized a craft fair for Piermont's artistic community and worked to attract new businesses to storefront properties.
“Within a matter of months the stores filled up, and, partly for that reason, Piermont became the place to be,” Mimi said. “Property values went up.”
Mimi continued this work from 1974 to 1981 as mayor of Piermont - the first female in the county to be elected to the office. Her election was made difficult by the village's composition of Italian families who could trace several generations in the town. Bryan, a Philadelphia native, was neither an Italian nor a long-time resident. She attributes her victory to the support of the outgoing mayor, Amarico DeFrancesca.
Following her three terms, Mimi continued to watch her community prosper. The closed factory property was eventually turned into condominiums, and Piermont's proximity to New York City made it an ideal home for commuters.
After leaving Piermont for Auburn, George and Mimi hope that by helping Paul, they can leave their new home a better place than it was before they arrived - starting with the house at 182 VanAnden St.
“There are a lot of poorly maintained apartments in Auburn, and we're trying to do the opposite,” Paul said. “We'd like to give the people who serve our community a decent place to live.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
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Nutrijwu wrote on Dec 18, 2007 8:57 AM: