It got more expensive to neglect properties in Washington, D.C. this week.
It will soon become harder for landlords to neglect vacant or blighted properties under a bill the D.C. Council unanimously passed today," reports Andrew Giambrone.
In effect, the measure implements higher property tax rates on vacant and blighted properties (5 and 10 percent more, respectively) "until owners affirmatively prove to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs that they've abated issues," according to Giambrone.
The measure is designed to respond to residents' complaints about the public health and safety issues connected to vacant and blighted properties. The idea is that negligent property owners and landlords will respond faster to the increased taxes. At-Large Councilmember Robert White also expressed the idea that vacant properties are a missed opportunity to provide shelter to the District's homeless population.
FULL STORY: D.C. Tightens Regulations on Vacant Properties
$160 Million in Bond Funding for Demolitions on the Ballot in Detroit
Proposal N, on the ballot for Detroit voters next week, will provide $160 million in bond funding for demolitions and $90 million to mothball homes for future rehab, but, according to this opinion, it won't solve the city's blight challenges.
Detroit Continues Demolition Program After Lead Risks Revealed
The city of Detroit said it would halt a demolition program after a report revealed the amount of lead released by demolitions into the environment, risking the health of children and other local residents.
Demolitions Can't Keep Pace With Vacancies in Baltimore
As the city of Baltimore grapples with a declining population, it faces obstinate challenges in controlling the problems associated with vacant buildings, including the "vicious cycle" of vacancies causing more vacancies.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
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