Mayor Announces Pilot Program to Assist and Train Schenectady Landlords

G.R.O.W. Program Aims to Improve Neighborhood Stability by Training Schenectady Investment Property Owners

Mayor Brian U. Stratton today announced a new city program to improve the quality of life in Schenectady neighborhoods and throughout the city by helping investment property owners become more responsible landlords through professional guidance, education and training.

The G.R.O.W. Schenectady Initiative, which stands for "Guidance Responsible Owners Want," will begin as a pilot program next year. It is a public/private partnership between Sunrise Management & Consulting of Latham, NY and the City of Schenectady, designed to provide property management evaluation and training for the city's investment property owners.

"The City of Schenectady recognizes that as a municipality we have a significant stake in the success of our investment property owners," Mayor Stratton said. "If our investment property owners take better care of their investment, and strive to educate tenants of their responsibilities, it helps to improve the quality our neighborhoods. Then, everyone wins."

The G.R.O.W. Schenectady Pilot Initiative has been jointly developed by Sunrise Management & Consulting, the City of Schenectady Department of Development and the Schenectady Housing Development Fund Corporation. This first-of-its kind program will utilize property evaluations, management audits, one-on-one consulting, and management training workshops to help owners enhance the operational performance of their City of Schenectady investment properties.

Mayor Stratton said the addition of the G.R.O.W. initiative will also support efforts already underway by his Administration to increase code enforcement throughout the City of Schenectady and to provide regular technical and legal training and instruction to the city's code enforcement officers.

"Our goal is not only to ensure that the city's building codes are enforced for safety, stability and aesthetic purposes, but to ensure that our code enforcement team is working together with investment property owners whenever possible. We have trained our code enforcement teams and now we are offering training to landlords and property owners as well," Mayor Stratton added.

Jesse Holland, President of Sunrise Management & Consulting, said, "Well-managed residential, retail and commercial properties are critical to a city's economic growth and stability. We are pleased to be working with the City of Schenectady to roll out this growth and stability initiative."

The G.R.O.W. Schenectady Pilot program will provide free evaluation, education and training to both small property owners and owners of retail/office and large multifamily properties.

Small property owners, those who own 4-20 unit residential housing buildings, will receive help with performance assessment, operational procedures, fiscal management and property maintenance programs.

Selected owners of retail, office and large multifamily properties will receive free property evaluation and management audits to assess operational performance issues. The results of the audits will be reviewed with participating property owners in two 2-hour consulting sessions.

Participants in the GROW Schenectady Pilot program will be selected within the program parameters on a first come, first served basis. Schenectady Property Owners interested in participating should contact Sunrise Management & Consulting at 518-389-2700.

About Sunrise Management & Consulting

Headquartered in Albany, NY, Sunrise Management & Consulting AMO is an innovative third party property management company providing property management services, market research, and consulting to property owners, investors and home owner associations throughout the Northeastern United States. For information about Sunrise find us at www.sunrisemc.com