A decision by State Supreme Court Associate Justice Denise Sher strikes down a zoning condition that required a two-family home to be occupied by its owner. The case against the Town of Hempstead originated afterREAD MORE
Short-Term Rentals “To Ban or Not to Ban That is the Question”
In recent developments we see the sharp divide in opinions short-term rentals are creating across the country. New York City In New York City there is full-court pressure on the largest entities involved in short-termREAD MORE
Mount Vernon OH Confusion surrounds vacant property registry
Interesting article that discusses some of the nuances inherent with vacant commercial property registration and the attempt to draft proper language. Article provides comments from the Mayor, various councilmembers and the Law Director on severalREAD MORE
LSU Department of Sociology Study Linking Blight and Homicide
A new study led by LSU Department of Sociology Assistant Professor Matthew Valasik is the first to show a statistical connection between homicide, blighted buildings and convenience stores in Baton Rouge. He is the firstREAD MORE
Federal Appeals Court: Saginaw vacant property registry doesn’t violate U.S. Constitution
A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge (class-action lawsuit brought by residents) to a Saginaw ordinance that requires owners of vacant properties to allow the city to enter if the property becomes dangerous. TheREAD MORE
State Fight The Blight and Vacant Property Registration Legislation
Following are a listing of various state initiatives surrounding Vacant Property Registration or general Fight-the-Blight Initiatives. Alabama Statewide Manufactured Housing Registration Ordinance Maine Statewide Notice to Municipality of Abandoned Property Statewide Notice to Municipality ofREAD MORE
GAO “(Vacant Properties) Growing Number Increases Communities’ Costs and Challenges”
In November 2011 the General Accounting Office issued a report titled “(Vacant Properties) Growing Number Increases Communities’ Costs and Challenges. Following are the highlights, the full report and additional information, is available by clicking here. SeeREAD MORE
GAO “Additional Mortgage Servicer Actions Could Help Reduce the Frequency and Impact of Abandoned Foreclosures”
Featuring the topic of “bank walkaways”, in November 2010 the General Accounting Office issued a report titled “Additional Mortgage Servicer Actions Could Help Reduce the Frequency and Impact of Abandoned Foreclosures” Following are the highlights, theREAD MORE
HUD Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) 2014 report “Vacant and Abandoned Properties: Turning Liabilities Into Assets”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) issued a report in 2014 titled “Vacant and Abandoned Properties: Turning Liabilities Into Assets” Following are the highlights withREAD MORE
2005 The National Vacant Properties Campaign Report “Vacant Properties The True Costs to Communities”
In one of the original reports on this topic, The National Vacant Properties Campaign (now the Center for Community Progress) discuss the true cost to communities as a result of vacant properties. Executive Summary ByREAD MORE
Albany Law School Research Paper “Regulating Vacant Property”
In 2011 a research paper was issued by the Albany Law School, authored by Keith H. Hirokawa and Ira Gonzalez. Local governments have recently noted a correlation between the characteristics of neglected properties (e.g., unkemptREAD MORE
Understanding the True Costs of Abandoned Properties: How Maintenance Can Make a Difference
Aaron Klein previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department for Economic Policy and Chief Economist of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. In January 2017, Klein issued aREAD MORE