Herkimer real estate Archives

Micron’s 100 Billion $ Investment Leads to Land Grab in Central NY

On Aug 25, 2022, President Biden signed an Executive Order to implement semiconductor funding in the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 Chip manufacturer Micron considered two candidate states for its new facility: Texas and NY. Just one week after Hurricane IAN struck Gulf Coast Fort Meyers FL on October 4, 2022, Micron Announced its $100 Billion Megafab Manufacturing Facility would be built in central NY.

Texas has been troubled by significant flooding, drought, and tornados making it unattractive in terms of climate change safety! It is anticipated that the new Micron facility in Clay New York will bring 50,000 new jobs to New York State. US-based supply chain safe DRAM production reduces risk while improving our local economy.

There is limited availability of homes nationwide! Even before IAN caused massive devastation in Florida, Pewtrusts.org reported that it might take 10 years to catch up on housing shortages. Massive construction of housing projects in NYS will be needed to provide homes for those who move here!

Greedy investors are motivated to grab available properties in Central NY. Some may use street gangs to harass vulnerable owners into moving! If you feel that this is happening to you don’t give in or you will be giving up your personal goldmine! We recommend an easy solution that is totally legal. Try Halt II Dog Repellant. Legal in New York State it repels dogs of all kinds 🙂 Also, take lots of photos and post them on YOUTUBE. Use hashtag gangBgone#. Giving up your nest egg is idiotic and will result in far more economic insecurity for your family!

Be brave and keep safe. You CAN do it!

Herkimer Hydraulic Canal No Longer Exists Yet Lowers Property Values

by Linda Kaidan

Final phase of Herkimer's Hydraulic Canal project is finished. (View from East Smith Street toward the Mohawk River.) — A section of the now completed Hydraulic Canal project, looking toward the Mohawk River from East Steele Street. Despite the out-of-date FEMA Flood maps, the area is no longer a flood risk

What is Herkimer’s Hydraulic Canal? How does it impact FEMA flood designations which influence both property values and the cost of flood insurance?

In the 1830’s Herkimer, NY was home to several major industries including furniture manufacturing and a paper mill. Local companies made use of hydraulic energy to power their production enabled by the construction of the Herkimer Hydraulic Canal. The canal’s water originated in West Canada Creek.

Ancient map of Herkimer's Hydraulic Canal, published by New Department of Environmental Conservation. — Ancient map of Herkimer’s Hydraulic Canal, published by New Department of Environmental Conservation.

“An oompah band can march most of the length of the former canal.

Eventually, the canal was no longer used and became a dumping site and a flood hazard. By 2021, a remediation project succeeded in making the hydraulic canal area much safer. The former Herkimer Hydraulic Canal is now cleaned, filled in, and flood safe. It is now a lovely green space. An oompah band can march most of the length of the former canal. Newer parts of the greenway are fenced off and hopefully will become a village park that leads to the banks of the Mohawk River.

Herkimer Hydraulic Canal(left). View from East Steele St. — Hydraulic Canal (left) where it crosses beneath East Steele Street and continues on to the Mohawk River to the right.

If you think your property has incorrect FEMA flood zoning you can submit a zoning change to FEMA!

It appears that remediation has not yet become part of the FEMA flood risk map commonly used by realtor.com. FEMA still shows this area as a dangerous flood zone (FEMA flood map-featured image-top). It continues to adversely impact local property values and gives potential home buyers concern.
If you are selling a home along the former hydraulic canal please contact FEMA to change your flood zone rating using this link. If you are planning on getting flood insurance, you should also consider examining your FEMA designation and make an effort to correct it where applicable. It can save you from higher premiums!

The current FEMA Flood Map shows flooding in zones where Herkimer Hydraulic Canal has been filled in.

Herkimer Soars As Americans Migrate From Coasts

Stephen Ames Berry

Herkimer’s soaring into a brave new world, as people migrating from our coasts to climate and pandemic safety zones such as upstate New York move here, contending briskly for homes. A house in our cute conveniently located village seems to sell every 90 seconds, even as prices continue ever upward. The sharp-eyed will have spotted license plates from as far away as Alaska and Washington state, California and Texas, with the Carolinas and Florida well-represented.

There are a phenomenal number of people scoping out our once forgotten area. Linda Kaidan’s photos of the Mohawk Valley, centered on Herkimer, have had over 4 million views. In the last 30 days, The Herkimer Post has enjoyed almost 15,000 page views, 90% of them from new visitors. We have a well-earned reputation for telling it as it is. And you do want to know how it is there before you commit to someplace new. (“We Publish What They Won’t” proclaims our masthead. We are not “The Herkimer Happy Hour.”)

Herkimer Post 30 Day Page Views as of 5.4.21

When the eviction moratorium ends, we’ll probably see more houses for sale here as nonpaying tenants are moved on and battered owners decide to wash their hands of what was once a safe, reliable investment. Even then there won’t be enough housing stock to meet the press of the demand.

Historically in boom times, undeveloped land is the next to go. Given the rapid growth of chip manufacturing in Upstate, notably Cree in Utica, this region may become the new Silicon Valley. Hopefully, New York will impose strict controls on growth. I hope we won’t see our magnificent countryside crammed with houses and choked by traffic.

Climate change projected to improve Herkimer NY economy

Marcy’s Nanotechnology Industry Drives Central NY Housing Shortage

by Linda Kaidan

As New York’s population decline continues Marcy’s Cree nanotechnology manufacturer draws real-estate buyers to our neighborhoods. Data from realtor.com shows that on 6/17/20 only 3 homes of any kind were available for sale in Marcy.

Proximity to Marcy is a strong indicator of reduced number of homes for sale.

Using realtor.com’s filter of all housing types including mobile, multi-family and single-family homes while excluding homes under contract, I collected statistics of homes for sale in 10 nearby communities. US census data provides population data. The distance of each location to Marcy is derived from Google maps. I also created an availability statistic which is a function of population and available homes for sale.

Distance to Marcy in miles	Towns
1-10	Mohawk, Frankfort, Whitesboro, Rome, Utica, New Hartford
11-20	Herkimer
21-30	Little Falls, German Flats

The highest availability of homes for sale was found in Little Falls with one home for every 95 people.

In contrast, the lowest availability was found in Utica with one home available for every 905 people.

Lower availability of homes for sale suggests that we construct new affordable housing.

As internet purchasing outstrips brick and mortar retail establishments, outdated and defunct structures become available for re-purposing as residential communities. An example of an outstanding makeover target is the abandoned Kmart located at 200 Washington St, Herkimer. This property has over 6.7 acres of sub-dividable land and is assessed at $2 million. In convenient walking distance to numerous amenities, it also offers relaxing views of the beautiful Mohawk Valley hills.

A close example of such an affordable housing construction project currently underway is the Snohomish County Washington site, formerly a Kmart. Four hundred much needed residential units will replace the unused commercial area. Building energy efficient smaller homes with multi use and shared community spaces will positively impact our quality of life.

Affordable owner-occupied homes and improved public transportation will create a stronger community and a healthy local economy.

It’s clear that Marcy’s new nanotechnology industry drives Central NY housing shortage. But we can use this to our advantage by creatively creating affordable and accessible housing alternatives.

Mohawk Valley Targeted By Major Solar Energy Investors

Why has Elon Musk, environmentalist, survivalist, billionaire and chairman of Solar City decided to invest his money in Upstate New York?

Musk’s goal is to create state-of-the-art solar panels that beat the competition (dirty energy) hands down, with added features such as easy of configuration and a streamlined, attractive appearance. A new manufacturing plant being built in Buffalo plans on adding 1,460 new jobs for its huge operations. Hiring has already begun.

SUNY has suffered from high energy costs ranging up to 50% more than those of the rest of the country. Enter the solution: Technology experts.

“SUNY’s Green Incubator will develop an integrated network of energy specialists from academia, industry, government, and the public policy arena who will fast-track our strategies, putting us on the leading edge of opportunities. And we will tap into more and different kinds of financing— including venture capital and angel investment funding—to place New York at the forefront of the clean energy economy.”

Elon Musk isn’t just any billionaire. He has a PhD from Stanford in physics, is the CEO of Tesla Motors and a co-founder of PayPal and SpaceX. As both a scientist and an astute investor, he knows how vital green energy is to our survival and has been investing in solar related products throughout the Mohawk Valley. Not coincidentally, Musk believes climate change will unleash massive migrations of displaced populations into global warming survival belts, such as New York’s Mohawk Valley.

Solar City is shifting its production base to Buffalo to improve control over supply. Their goal is to become a fully integrated residential and commercial provider.

Solar City Herkimer

New York State has expanded the growth of solar energy, which tripled between 2011 and 2014, bringing lower energy costs for both commercial and residential applications. Solar City will be constructing two solar arrays on 10 acres of land adjacent to Herkimer Community College. On June 24, 2015, the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency passed a resolution to allow the $3.5 million project to move forward. Already been approved by the Herkimer County Legislature, the solar arrays are expected to save the Herkimer County and SUNY Herkimer $80,000 each per year.
New York’s focus on technology is realized in local programs. $191 million Zero Energy Nanotechnology (ZEN) building in Albany is a world-class laboratory for clean and renewable energy technologies. The result of New York’s visionary investment of billions of dollars in this green technology will be thousands of jobs, groundbreaking programs and research, and the capacity to train and create a skilled local workforce.

New York is fast becoming a green energy leader, pulling way ahead of most other states. And much of that innovation will come from here in Upstate New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Problems Nano Technology Can Solve

Miracle substances made from nano-sized material can help us live longer despite serious disease, and can help save our planet from the devastating effects of climate change. Products made from these materials will be researched, designed and produced in the Mohawk Valley of New York.

Graphene is a two-dimensional material made from carbon. In 2010, groundbreaking experimentation with this substance won Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim the Nobel Prize in Physics. A stellar performer in material science, graphene’s electrical, chemical, mechanical and optical properties make it a miracle for innovators in many different fields.

Carbon in graphene is one atom thick, a hexagonal lattice with a single carbon atom at each of its 6 vertices. It’s ironic that a way to overcome the long-term threat to life on Earth posed by climate change is by using the very material that all life on Earth is made from, carbon.

A recent MIT tech review article discusses how super thin graphene can mitigate climate change. Graphene may be the catalyst to protecting us from slow death by global warming. Graphene traps the carbon that contributes to CO2 pollution and the greenhouse effect—a process that’s causing average temperatures to rise all over the Earth.Through the process of graphene sequestering, this seemingly miraculous material will convert the harmful CO2 it captures into a valuable building material.

Researchers are optimistic about graphene’s huge potential for reducing atmospheric temperature. They calculate that given an area less than 10 percent of the size of the Sahara Desert, the method could remove enough carbon dioxide to make global atmospheric levels return to preindustrial levels within 10 years, even if we keep emitting the greenhouse gas at a high rate during that period.

Another nano-filter solution of global impact is desalination. Many parts of our planet are experiencing severe drought. California has long been a region where much of US produce is grown. But California’s devastating water shortage may severely impact its agricultural production. With graphene, though, large scale and inexpensive desalination can come to the rescue.Reuters reports that defense contractor Lockheed Martin is developing graphene filters to cleanse wastewater contaminated by oil, using sheets with precisely designed openings of 1 nanometer, a one-atom thick membrane.

Graphene sheets can be produced with precisely-sized holes as small as 1 nanometer, or a billionth of a meter (0.000000001, or 10-9 meters). Lockheed eventually plans on also applying this technology to desalination. The methodology has proven successful, but further refinement is needed to make the solution cost effective.

Filtering carbon from the atmosphere and removing salt and contaminants from ocean water are critical uses of graphene, an incredibly versatile nano material vital to solving some of the earth’s most pressing problems.

Linda Kaidan

Invest for success – Maximize your Herkimer investment!

Now is the time to invest for success. Herkimer real estate is still available at rock bottom prices as billions of dollars in local investment are being made.

Strong indication of economic transformation

Governor Cuomo’s Nano Utica initiative, a distance of 17.3 miles from Herkimer, is expected to create in excess of 4,000 world-class jobs over the next 10 years. It will contribute to New York State’s goal as a technology hub for nano-tech, education and economic development.

The long-depressed Herkimer economy has left a glut of low cost, rundown homes dating back to the 19th century. It appears prices have finally reached rock bottom. Unimproved homes on our street are for sale starting as low as 35K . A lovely garden and outstanding accessibility to country lanes, excellent shopping and medical services are within a 10 minute walk. When you buy an unimproved home, you can create just the space you want. It can be distinctive or neutral and you stand to increase your profit potential substantially.

History repeats itself

In 1998, I renovated a 3-family home on Walnut St. in Brookline, MA. I was very charmed to find such an affordable home in upscale Brookline Village. I purchased the building for $210,000 in the mid 90s from an architect who needed to cash out. At that time it looked like a tenement, with rusty bathroom fixtures and walls coated in grime. The back hall stairs were sagging and the basement had a dirt floor. The roof itself alerted me to its need for immediate replacement dripping water into my morning coffee just after I moved in.

I spent about $90,000 on renovations executed by a general contractor and converted the 3 rental units legally to condominiums. Today – 16 years later – the property is worth a total of about $1.35 million. While I sold each unit after completing renovations, some of the condo buyers may have ended up profiting more than I did. For example, I sold the bottom unit for under $200,000. It is now worth close to $480,000 which is still a deal for this area where the average home is valued at $800,000.

Technology driving economy

Technology companies, historic charm and lovely landscapes are great contributors to a healthy local economy. The ingredients for investment success are the same as those in Boston and neighboring Brookline back in the mid to late 90’s.

a depressed real estate market – Buying low means easy buy in with numerous choices.
a good location – I-90 accessibility, walk to commerce and nature, all within a 15 mile proximity to the burgeoning Marcy Tech area.
a healthy economy on the horizon – with billions of dollars being invested nearby it’s likely that the local property values will reflect new investment. What helped bring Boston back was the massive infusion of cash from expanding high tech and biotech firms.
Timing – Those who are on the scene first will likely reap the greatest rewards. If you wait too long, your chances will decline. And with the huge publicity and massive investment rolling into the Marcy Tech, I wouldn’t be surprised if groups of investors soon began quietly snapping up properties in Otsego and Herkimer counties.

New York City and San Francisco Bay have long been US high tech Leaders. New York is now extending its technology leadership to our Mohawk Valley. Consider being part of this success story.

Time for Herkimer Makeover

The power of one can make an amazing difference. So many times people say “There’s nothing I can do about it – there’s only one of me.” But it’s been proven over and over again that with just one person seeing a problem and thinking about a solution, rapid achievements can be made.

One example recently in the news is the story of a man in Oregon who transformed an old man’s dilapidated home into a smart looking well maintained residence by doing the following:

1) The Problem – He realized that an old man was unhappy because he did not have the resources to fix his home which was dilapidated and the object of ridicule.

2) The Solution –

He realized that he could make a change by recruiting volunteers from social media like Facebook.
The home makeover could be done free of charge with the help of volunteers and with donations from local home repair stores.

3) The Result –

Community action and volunteerism leads to quick and substantial improvement at little or no cost.

If you see a problem that you think you can fix – post it publicly online and discuss it with friends and neighbors to plan a solution. Ask local organizations and merchants for contributions of materials and possibly time. Solving community problems can be far more rewarding than complaining. The results can fuel our creativity and contribute to self-esteem.

Mohawk Valley Water

Mohawk Valley water will likely save us from experiencing events like the 134,000 acre wildfire in California, where 13,000 people are now being evacuated. Fueled by dry vegetation from a relentless drought, these fires seem to signal the start of an epoch dry period Northern CA must now address differently than in the past. It’s not just California’s problem, it’s a problem for the majority of the US residents–California’s Central Valley produces 2/3 of all the produce grown in the US. Northern California is home to a vital national resource, the Silicon Valley, where new technology is incubated and produced for worldwide use. Computer and biotech industries cluster about the San Francisco Bay area. Their vibrancy reflects that of the California economy, which in 2014 was the world’s eighth largest. With California’s ever-increasing droughts and with wildfires burning with only limited control, it seems reasonable to ask:

Why is California so dry, and is this trend likely to continue?
How can this precipitous state of instability be contained so that precious resources are not further endangered?

Too Dry

In 2014 the New York Times reported that 17 California rural communities providing water to 40,000 people were within four months of running out of water. The situation hasn’t improved. Agricultural demands, home consumption and landscaping requirements have increased even as water resources continue to diminish. And people have often proven unresponsive to conservation needs, allowing water guzzlers to grab more than their fair share. California’s 2014 rainfall year ended with one of the lowest rainfalls since the 1920’s.

A more stable California

Because California has limited water resources and a high population density, it makes sense to do things differently. Californians love their state, but they also need enough water for their needs and safety from dangerous and uncontrollable wild fires. On the upside, it seems desalination is coming to the fore to increase available fresh water. High tech materials like graphene may also make the production of abundant fresh water from the ocean possible on a broad scale. More effective waste water recycling is possible–Australia has shown us the way, with the largest recycling plant of its kind anywhere.

Moving to a greener place

Today’s industries have become adept at decentralizing, with workers telecommuting from anywhere on the planet. Mobile technology is widely and available to people and companies at reasonable cost. (Google, provider of the world’s most popular search engine, has decided to penalize website rankings for those who have mobile unfriendly layouts.)

A new beginning that works better

It makes sense for companies to be located where there’s excellent transportation, services and resources, including abundant water and natural beauty. Herkimer and other towns in the Mohawk Valley region can provide the safety of a water-rich geography, a technological backbone and a convenient location. One quarter of the total North American population is located within 300 miles of Herkimer County. Andrew Cuomo, Governor of NY, has initiated a $1.5 billion upstate economic development competition.

New York’s upstate regions are battling each other for one of three $500 million prizes. Proposals may be submitted until October 5, 2015. Rebuild and renew in New York’s Mohawk Valley where you’ll find New York’s resources, green energy, seemingly unlimited water supplies and the majestic Adirondack Forest – largest in the US. Embrace the serenity of nature and the resources you need to live well.

Linda Kaidan

Can you get a better price on your home?

Getting a better price on your home in Herkimer can be easy. The Village of Herkimer is fortunate to have so many historic homes. Most date from the early 20^th century, when Herkimer boomed and craftsmen from Europe and America moved here. From the houses that cluster around King Street’s old Standard Desk Company factory in south Herkimer, to the elegant homes of prosperous merchants and company owners seen in north Herkimer, all were well built and each has its own unique history and charm. Herkimer’s irreplaceable housing stock is only going to increase in value as those to our south look increasingly to Upstate New York as a sound housing investment in the face of increasingly rapid climate change.

If you own one of these Herkimer gems, and are thinking of selling, some remodeling may be in order. Draw up a budget and a design to suit your resources and needs. When considering your options, focus on choosing the most rewarding possibilities. Perhaps it makes sense to add a skylight or upscale window to bring in natural light. You can often find used construction material sources that can bring the same rewards for a fraction of the retail cost.

When selecting materials, ensure they don’t contain unhealthy pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds. Rugs containing olefin can be especially harmful to your health. Martha Stewart has many suggestions for making healthy carpeting and rug choices.

Two high impact but relatively low cost design elements are lighting and art work. Even in an empty house they can create the inviting atmosphere that helps to sell it. Many local artists are typically delighted to exhibit their work for free. They can be found online or by visiting their shops and galleries.

Not everyone appreciates art, but most do. The more vibrant and intriguing of homes are likely to sell faster. Make certain that you price your home well, but don’t give it away. Herkimer’s located in the Mohawk Valley, part of New York’s growing Technology Corridor, far from coastal flooding and a refuge from persistently high temperatures.

If you’d like to do short term rentals while your home is listed for sale, take a look at AIRBNB.com. You can get a lot of design ideas for your home. My daughter’s renting a room in her Brooklyn apartment on Airbnb. The Airbnb lisitng fee is very low. She’s clearing at least $1300 per month for a single bedroom and is typically fully booked. Her furnishings are 100% used and most of the art is the original work of artists who are unknown, but talented and hopeful.

Be creative and enjoy yourself as you go about preparing your Herkimer home for sale. You’ll have fun and make more money.

Herkimerpost

“An oompah band can march most of the length of the former canal.

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

As New York’s population decline continues Marcy’s Cree nanotechnology manufacturer draws real-estate buyers to our neighborhoods. Data from realtor.com shows that on 6/17/20 only 3 homes of any kind were available for sale in Marcy.

Proximity to Marcy is a strong indicator of reduced number of homes for sale.

Lower availability of homes for sale suggests that we construct new affordable housing.

Affordable owner-occupied homes and improved public transportation will create a stronger community and a healthy local economy.

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost

Herkimerpost