As the loudest and strongest advocate for “clearboarding” my late father-in-law Robert Klein would be proud of Mobile’s approach to addressing blight. Replacing plywood boards with plexiglass/polycarbonate is a simple but powerful solution. See forREAD MORE
Center for Community Progress Study on Albuquerque’s Potential for Land Banking as Solution to Abandoned Properties
In January 2018 Albuquerque’s Vacant & Abandoned Houses Task Force issued their findings and recommendations to council. In April 2019, the City received a report from the Center for Community Progress who was retained byREAD MORE
Foreclosure Crisis Impacts on Local Voter Participation
Following is a press release from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, discussing how the most recent foreclosure crisis negatively impacted voter turnout. Foreclosure Crisis Eroded Milwaukee Voter Turnout The foreclosure crisis that accompanied the Great RecessionREAD MORE
Engaging a New Generation and Creating a New Tool in the Blight Fight
A local community in Pennsylvania has tapped in to a great resource, local students from Harrisburg Area Community College and Blue Mountain High School. The initiative to help the borough of Mahanoy City determine exactlyREAD MORE
Successful Utilization of a VPRO
A recent article in the Chicago Tribune featured the successes of Aurora’s (IL) Vacant and Foreclosed Property License program started in August 2016. Aurora’s utilization of the data includes inter-department collaboration. There are still moreREAD MORE
NJ Governor Murphy Signs Legislative Package to Address New Jersey’s Foreclosure Crisis
Following is the April 29th press release from the Governor’s office regarding his signing of 9 foreclosure related pieces of legislation. Governor Murphy Signs Legislative Package to Address New Jersey’s Foreclosure Crisis ATLANTIC CITY –READ MORE
Kansas City MO “Codes Advocate”
A recent article in discusses the hiring of a “codes advocate” to be the go-between between the code department and residents in Kansas City, MO. The article has an intriguing quote, “The idea is itREAD MORE
Code Enforcement Liens: Carrot or Stick? Or both?
So I came across an interesting article, the headline, and in fact the article itself, was very matter of fact. The headline read “Code violators owe Estero more than $2M in fines. The Village CouncilREAD MORE
Pennsylvania Restore PA Initiative
In a recent article from WJAC, discussing the Governor’s new initiative, DCED Deputy Secretary of Community Affairs Rick Vilello has a very profound quote. “Vilello says blight often begins with small blemishes. First it startsREAD MORE
Doing the right thing…
I have been blessed many times in my life, and in many different aspects. One area I do not take for granted was the opportunity to witness first-hand how my late father-in-law, an Ernst &READ MORE
Bloomberg “The U.S. Mortgage Market Needs Better Plumbing”
“Zombie Foreclosures” a thing of the past? Not if you read this article! Great recommendations, especially geared towards avoiding foreclosure but as it pertains to blight, recommending transferring a property “as-is” is scary. Vacant propertyREAD MORE
When “Three to Six Months” turns to “Next Day”!
“Summerville town officials say they have been aware of the home and are monitoring it. Town code enforcement staff still need to determine what bank owns the foreclosed home. Town spokesperson Mary Edwards said staff will not know whoREAD MORE