On Monday, February 10, the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by long-time anti-blight advocate Senator David Argall, held a public hearing to review successful strategies for combating blighted, decaying buildings in communities large andREAD MORE
Rental Registry – One Step Back Two Steps Forward
Two recent developments in Syracuse NY center around its rental registration program. First, on January 23rd syracuse.com reported that per the City’s Auditor, its “rental registry’s weak compliance is worse than believed”. Per City Auditor 25% ofREAD MORE
Civil Nuisance Law – Private Nuisance Lawsuits
One Georgia municipality is working to develop “a civil nuisance law that would allow private citizens to file nuisance complaints in Municipal Court.” The stated intent is to assist in scenarios where a violation exists thatREAD MORE
Rental Registries – Opposite Agendas at the Statehouse
Two states are seeing contrasting efforts pertaining to rental property registries. In Kentucky, House Bill 173, introduced by Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, would prohibit any local government in Kentucky from adopting or enforcing “policy thatREAD MORE
When Mortgages Aren’t the Issue: How Rising Taxes and Insurance Costs are Impacting Homeowners
Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets have highlighted a concerning trend: in some housing markets, homeowners are now paying more for insurance and property taxes than they are for theirREAD MORE
When Systems Fail: Another Troubling Example
In the last post, we delved into an instance of “When Systems Fail.” Unfortunately, another case has surfaced, bringing with it numerous red flags and critical questions to consider. Where to even begin? This time,READ MORE
When Systems Fail: Troubling Approach to Abandoned Properties
The quote often misattributed to Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” feels particularly relevant to a recent article coming out of Pittsburgh. In this troublingREAD MORE
Webinar: REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE: A Path to Equitable & Efficient Neighborhood Revitalization
MuniReg President Michael Halpern was privileged to co-present on a recent webinar titled “REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE: A Path to Equitable & Efficient Neighborhood Revitalization” Hosted by former Kansas City, MO Mayor Mark Funkhouser, Michael wasREAD MORE
Vacant Property Registrations: Maintaining the Proper Perspective.
A recent article highlights an exemption request filed for a vacant property registration (VPR) in Minden, Nebraska. This situation appears to be a case of much ado about nothing. When a VPR program is approachedREAD MORE
Reframing the Discussion: Building Fees and the Bigger Picture
A recent article in the Roswell (NM) Daily Record highlights the city’s initiative to reduce building fees as a way to encourage the rehabilitation of condemned properties. While this approach is commendable, it’s crucial toREAD MORE
Local Housing Solutions Rental Registries Brief
Earlier this year, Local Housing Solutions released a brief reviewing “empirical evidence about rental registries’ efficacy in promoting housing quality and affordability. This brief is designed to be a resource for local governments considering establishingREAD MORE
Observations on “so-called vacant property registration movement” article
A recent syndicated article being picked up by mainstream media outlets seem to portray the “so-called vacant property registration movement” in a negative light. Couple of key points: “But what goes unsaid is that registrationsREAD MORE