Macon-Bibb (GA) commissioners will consider a new resolution to combat blight in their community.

The purpose of the resolution is “to request state legislation or administrative action to allow local governments to capture insurance proceeds following a major loss or damage to the structure, so as to provide for the remediation or demolition of such structures as address problems relating to owners abandoning damaged or destroyed structures.”

For additional information, please click on following links;

WGXA Media Article: ‘Put people on notice’: Macon looks to change property insurance to fight blight

Resolution 

Though New York State Dept. of Financial Services has strict guidance pertaining to requirements to maintain vacant properties additional legislation continues to be introduced.

S1579 was referred to the Housing, Construction & Community Development Committee on January 13th 2021.

The main addition is the term “in good faith”

This proposed legislation has been discussed under different bill numbers since the 2013-2014 session.

For more information, please click here.

As outlined in the below Memo, Rep. Gerald Mullery (D) 119th District has introduced HB 160 designed to close an important loophole that is negatively impacting local communities and hindering blight mitigation efforts.

For additional information from the PA Statehouse, please click here.

For a report from Fox56, including comments from Rep. Mullery, please click here.

Memo

Every community in Pennsylvania wants to fight blight and see their neighborhoods revitalized. Part of that revitalization is ensuring there are safe, quality buildings owned by a reliable tax base. A municipality has the authority to deny permits to individuals who are delinquent on their taxes. However, bad actors have found a loophole when it comes to a limited liability corporation or LLC. An LLC can apply for permits, and the municipality may be forced to issue the permits even if one of the principal owners is delinquent on their taxes.

It is time to put an end to this loophole and help our municipal governments. My legislation will give power to the municipality to deny a permit to an LLC not only when the LLC has delinquencies, but also if one of its principals has any delinquencies in the municipality.

I ask that you join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that will give a city, borough, or township the ability to ensure revitalization that will benefit the community for years.

Open data and transparency regarding vacant and abandoned properties can result in unintended circumstances.
However when discussing rental properties the benefits far outweigh the risks.

As discussed in a recent Washington Post article, often renters have to agree to a background check but it’s pretty rare for the reverse to happen.

Now renters in D.C. can access information directly from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs through its “Landlord Violations Tool” allowing lookups for violations either by landlord name or a particular property address

For more information, please click here.

The City of Denison recently publicized a new program.
This is not “just a one and done” incentive, but a comprehensive program with various incentives along the way.
Having the program is the main victory they are actively publicizing it and getting the word out
The catchy jingle at the end doesn’t hurt.
The Mayor in her comments did miss an important, if not the most important aspect. While stating the program is “all about” a) improving existing homes and b) building equity, she neglected to mention how the City is being creative and thinking outside of the box.
Demonstrating in actions and not just words, the City shows that it seeks to collaborate, and values and rewards altruistic behaviors and actions.
For more information, the promotional video is available here.

Operation/Project Round Up is a charitable program that is offered by many utility and electric companies across the country with a voluntary signup. Customers agree to have their utility bill “rounded up” to the next whole dollar amount with the funds going towards helping the less fortunate pay their bills.

In a unique approach, the City of El Campo, TX is utilizing this program to address blight.
Below is a link to the council agenda that has additional details (Page 5)

http://elcampocitytx.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1399&Inline=True

On January 16, The El Capo Leader-News reported it passed Council.

 

Included in the Five Star Institute’s Property Preservation Executive Forum Winter Newsletter is an article titled “Surviving Code Violations – A litigation guide to handling maintenance & safety code violations in the upcoming explosion of foreclosures.”

Authored by Louis J. Salerno, Esq. General Counsel for Guardian Asset Management the article provides insight into banking/servicers concerns, policies and overall perspective in addressing municipal code violations.

To view the article, please click here  (article is on page four)