By JESSICA MAHER

Recorder News Staff

The organization that purchased the bulk of Amsterdam properties during an auction last year have placed "for sale" signs on a number of those buildings.

The World Peace and Health Organization purchased 48 properties throughout the city in an auction last August for about $99,000, indicating that it would rehabilitate the houses and use them as residences for investors and members of the community.

The independent for sale signs that have sprung up on properties from East Main Street to Guy Park Avenue list two phone numbers: one that was out of service and one belonging to WPHO member Regina Law, who would not comment for this story.

WPHO spokeswoman Jennie Wong said Wednesday that she was unclear why the properties have been put up for sale but believes one reason is the violations issued by the city for garbage and vegetation.

"Some people keep throwing trash in our property, which has been cleared already and during the time we have been here we've been doing our best to clear that," said Wong. "The city doesn't understand."

Mayor Ann Thane said the group had not notified her about putting the properties up for sale but said the WPHO have requested a meeting with the city.

"The bottom line is that you are responsible for the properties that you buy and it's a law that applies to all the property owners in the city of Amsterdam," she said. "They're not being targeted ... we've done everything in our power to help them."

Members of the non-profit Buddhist organization, which aims to promote world peace and health, had begun clean-up work last fall on the properties they'd purchased, obtaining several permits from the city for roof, porch and electrical repairs.

Following a January break-in to a WPHO property on Leonard Street, however, the group's leader, Master Ziguang Shang Shi, announced plans to abandon future investments in the city. During a news conference, he told reporters he planned to give the 48 properties back to the city or sell them outright for $1 each if need be.

Some of the properties the WPHO is selling had been on the demolition list before the August auction. With about 30 city-owned properties set to be demolished this year using funding bonded for the demolition effort, 1st Ward Alderman Joseph Isabel said the possibility of more properties being added to the demolition list is worrisome.

"If they don't sell them, they'll probably give them back to us I would imagine," he said.

Contact JESSICA MAHER at

jessica.maher@recordernews.com.