We decided to
compare the assessed value per square foot for two streets that are in
the same neighborhood code 4817 (Starter Homes). We chose Balsam
Crescent and Sherrillbrook Road. If you are not familiar with
these two streets, Sherrillbrook Road is a private road across the
street from the Wedgewood Aprts. and Balsam Crescent is in the Manors.
Click here to view a pdf
of our report that can be printed on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper.
You might want to print a copy so you can folllow along with the
explanation below. Each street is sorted by assessed
value per square foot, from lowest to highest.
To create this report, we divided the 2006 assessed
value by the 2006 square footage recorded in the assessment database.
Note that all these homes are in the same Neighborhood Code.
The fact that these two streets are even in the
same neighborhood code is just plain wrong. But look at the report and
follow along as I outline the problems. First of all, notice the difference in square feet
between the homes on Sherrillbrook Road versus the homes on Balsam
Crescent. The 3 homes on Sherrillbrook Road are anywhere from
2,767 sq. ft. to 5,066 sq. ft. and the homes on Balsam Crescent are
anywhere from 725 sq. ft. to 1,652 sq. ft. Slight difference in
size, wouldn't you say?
Next, look at the assessed value per square foot.
Sherrrillbrook Road is a low of $46.68 per sq. ft. to a high of $77.70
per sq. ft. Balsam Crescent is a low of $44.34 per sq. ft. to a
high of $76.97 per sq. ft. Gee, almost the same range of dollars
per square foot. Too bad, the Balsam Crescent homes are for the
most part under 1,000 sq. ft. and nothing like the mansions on
Sherrillbrook Road. By the way, only one home on Balsam Crescent
(in red print)
is in the $40.00 per sq. ft. range and that home does not have a
neighborhood code so therefore it has never been reassessed.
Finally, look at the grade of each home. If
you are wondering what Grade means, we have a chart that we took
directly from the Office of Real Property Services (ORPS) website.
Look at this chart
and note the difference between a Grade B home like on Sherrillbrook
Road and a Grade D like on Balsam Crescent.
Do you think there may be a problem with this scenario.
If you think these are the only two roads with this problem, think again.
Do you think this is fair assessing?
Please keep watching this site if you want to know what really
happened. Email us
New Hartford, N.Y. Online if you have any questions or better yet, check with the assessor to see if he agrees with our reports
and then ask him "How Come?"
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