§ 421-ff. Exemption of capital improvements to residential buildings
in cities with a population between twenty-seven thousand five hundred
and twenty-eight thousand based upon the two thousand ten federal
census. 1. Residential buildings which have been reconstructed, altered
or improved subsequent to the effective date of a local law pursuant to
this section shall be exempt from taxation and special ad valorem levies
to the extent provided hereinafter in cities with a population between
twenty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty-eight thousand based upon
the two thousand ten federal census. For purposes of this section,
"reconstruction", "alteration" or "improvement" shall not include
ordinary maintenance and repairs. After a public hearing, the governing
board of a city with such a population may adopt a local law to grant
the exemption authorized pursuant to this section. A copy of such local
law shall be filed with the commissioner and the assessor of such city
who prepares the assessment roll on which the taxes of such city are
levied.

2. Such buildings shall be exempt for a period of two years to the
extent of one hundred per centum of the increase in assessed value
thereof attributable to such reconstruction, alterations or improvements
and for an additional period of four years subject to the following:

(a) The extent of such exemption shall be decreased by twenty per
centum of the "exemption base" each year during such additional
four-year period, such that during year three there shall be an
exemption of eighty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof
attributable, during year four there shall be an exemption of sixty per
centum of the increase in assessed value thereof attributable, in year
five there shall be an exemption of forty per centum of the increase in
assessed value thereof attributable and in year six there shall be an
exemption of twenty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof
attributable; and

(b) The "exemption base" shall be the increase in assessed value due
to improvements as determined by the assessor in the initial year of
such six-year period following the filing of an original application.

3. There shall be enhanced benefits for improvement to real property
meeting certification standards for green buildings. Such residential
real property that has been reconstructed, altered or improved that is
certified under a certification standard approved by the city which is
determined to be equivalent to the leadership in energy and
environmental design (LEED) certification for the categories of
certified/silver, gold or platinum as meeting green building standards
shall be exempt for the following percentages, provided that a copy of
the certification for a qualified category is filed with the assessor of
such city and the assessor approves the application for the applicable
category as meeting the requirements of this section and the local law
of such city:

(a) Certified/silver certification standard. Such buildings shall be
exempt for a period of three years to the extent of one hundred per
centum of the increase in assessed value thereof attributable to such
reconstruction, alteration or improvement and for an additional period
of four years. The extent of such exemption shall be decreased by twenty
per centum of the "exemption base" each year during such additional
four-year period such that during year four there shall be an exemption
of eighty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof
attributable, during year five there shall be an exemption of sixty per
centum of the increase in assessed value thereof attributable, in year
six there shall be an exemption of forty per centum of the increase in
assessed value thereof attributable and in year seven there shall be an
exemption of twenty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof
attributable. The "exemption base" shall be the increase in assessed
value due to improvements as determined by the assessor in the initial
year of such seven-year period following the filing of an original
application;

(b) Gold standard. Such buildings shall be exempt for a period of four
years to the extent of one hundred per centum of the increase in
assessed value thereof attributable to such reconstruction, alteration
or improvement and for an additional period of four years. The extent of
such exemption shall be decreased by twenty per centum of the "exemption
base" each year during such additional four-year period such that during
year five there shall be an exemption of eighty per centum of the
increase in assessed value thereof attributable, during year six there
shall be an exemption of sixty per centum of the increase in assessed
value thereof attributable, in year seven there shall be an exemption of
forty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof attributable
and in year eight there shall be an exemption of twenty per centum of
the increase in assessed value thereof attributable. The "exemption
base" shall be the increase in assessed value due to improvements as
determined by the assessor in the initial year of such eight-year period
following the filing of an original application; or

(c) Platinum standard. Such buildings shall be exempt for a period of
six years to the extent of one hundred per centum of the increase in
assessed value thereof attributable to such reconstruction, alteration
or improvement and for an additional period of four years. The extent of
such exemption shall be decreased by twenty per centum of the "exemption
base" each year during such additional four-year period such that during
year seven there shall be an exemption of eighty per centum of the
increase in assessed value thereof attributable, during year eight there
shall be an exemption of sixty per centum of the increase in assessed
value thereof attributable, in year nine there shall be an exemption of
forty per centum of the increase in assessed value thereof attributable
and in year ten there shall be an exemption of twenty per centum of the
increase in assessed value thereof attributable. The "exemption base"
shall be the increase in assessed value due to improvements as
determined by the assessor in the initial year of such ten-year period
following the filing of an original application.

4. Exemptions granted pursuant to this section shall apply to real
property taxes imposed for city purposes.

5. No such exemption shall be granted unless:

(a) Such reconstruction, alteration or improvement was commenced
subsequent to the effective date of the local law or resolution adopted
pursuant to subdivision one of this section;

(b) The value of such reconstruction, alteration or improvement
exceeds the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars; and

(c) Such reconstruction, alteration or improvement is documented by a
building permit, if required, for the improvements or other appropriate
documentation as required by the city assessor.

6. Such exemption shall be granted only upon application by the owner
of such building on a form prescribed by the commissioner. Such
application shall be filed with the assessor of a city with a population
of not less than twenty-seven thousand five hundred and not more than
twenty-eight thousand on or before the appropriate taxable status date
of such city and within one year after the date of completion of such
reconstruction, alteration or improvement.

7. If satisfied that the applicant is entitled to an exemption
pursuant to this section, the city assessor shall approve the
application and such building shall thereafter be exempt from taxation
and special ad valorem levies by the city as provided in this section
commencing with the assessment roll prepared on the basis of the taxable
status date referred to in subdivision six of this section. The assessor
shall enter the assessed value of any exemption granted pursuant to this
section on the assessment roll for the taxable property, with the amount
of the exemption shown in a separate column. In any case where there is
an enhanced exemption benefit based on a certification of
certified/silver, gold or platinum LEED standards in accordance with
applicable certification standards approved by the city, a copy of such
certification shall be filed in the subject real property file.

8. In the event that real property granted an exemption pursuant to
this section ceases to be used primarily for residential purposes, the
exemption granted pursuant to this section shall cease.