House on Groton Ave. Saved – Owners Pay City $33K; House to be Renovated

Residents may have noticed the long vacant house at 169-171 Groton Ave. has yet to be demolished after the Common Council voted to order the demolition of the house earlier this month. The house has sat vacant at the corner of Groton Ave. and Forrest Ave. for well over 15 years.

However, residents would have seen a large commercial dumpster in the driveway to the house. City of Cortland Codes told X101 News the owner of the property reached out to the City of Cortland last minute to hold off tearing down the house.

With that, the owner of the property cut a check to the City of Cortland in the amount of $33,000 dollars from the fines and fees the property has amassed. The owner of the property, the E. Paul Mosbo Trust, also agreed to clean out the house and have the property sold within 30 days to a new owner.

The new owner would also be required by the city to fix up the property, beginning with the exterior before renovating the interior. If not, the city still reserves the right to demolish the structure. Renovation of the house will keep it on city tax rolls and not put the city in a position to go after the owner for payment of the demolition.