True story. Several years ago, I was invited to present to the City Council and heads of the fire, police and building departments for a larger (200,000+) city on “zombie foreclosures” etc. First to arriveREAD MORE
Community Engagement in Jamestown NY
Sometimes simplicity is all that is needed. No need to over complicate matters. Jamestown NY has a clear section on its homepage to allow constituents to report a vacant property. For communities that may notREAD MORE
Oswego NY Blight Reduction Loan Program
In a positive step another local government is utilizing the tax rolls to address blight in their community. After years of hearing the frustration over “clean and lien” programs (both having to “clean” and thenREAD MORE
Challenges to Nuisance Property Legislation
Update May 2, 2024 As a direct result of the lawsuit filed in Bedford OH, Mount Vernon OH is discussing repealing its own ordinance. For more information, please click here. Update January 11, 2023 AREAD MORE
Greater Ohio Policy Center “Misconceptions About Vacant Property Registries”
Wonderful report by Greater Ohio Policy Center titled “Misconceptions About Vacant Property Registries”. Specifically, the report discusses; What is a VPRO (Vacant Property Registration Ordinances)? VPRO three main objectives Benefits of a VPRO Self sustaining programREAD 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
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
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
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