February 2022 report titled “State Policy and Problem Property Regulation” is derived is derived from a working paper prepared by Alan Mallach pursuant to a joint program agreement between the Center for Community Progress and the Lincoln Institute of LandREAD MORE
Proactivity to Save Lives
St Louis has commenced utilizing firefighters to catalog and categorize vacant and abandoned properties. Fire crews will be asked to spend at least one hour a day surveying vacant buildings and putting them into threeREAD MORE
LISC & Urban Institute White Paper “Reclaiming Vacant Houses & Preventing Foreclosure”
A new white paper by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Urban Institute assesses the effectiveness of New York State’s 2016 “Zombie Law” (also known as the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act) and LISC’s “VacantsREAD MORE
Let’s Pull Together Initiative
Let’s Pull Together works with local faith-based organizations and major employers’ volunteer groups to enlist their help with homeowners in need with minor code compliance issues. A similar program in Round Rock TX was theREAD MORE
NLC Eviction Prevention: A Guide for Local Governments
The National League of Cities and the Legal Design Lab have a new report out: “Eviction Prevention: A Guide for Local Governments” Released January, 2022, “it helps local coalitions establish new eviction prevention measures thatREAD MORE
2021 AACE Conference Innovative Code Department Award – Round Rock TX
The 2021 American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) Conference featured several awards and recognition. The Innovative Code Department Award was awarded to the City of Round Rock, TX and the Code Officer of the YearREAD MORE
Monessen PA Chooses Carrot over the Stick
Monessen PA is, essentially, giving vacant homes to anyone who is willing to repair them. And two officials overseeing the plan said “it is working.” For more information please click on the following links. LocalREAD MORE
CA SB 296 Code Enforcement Safety Law
California Governor Newsom signed SB 296 “Code enforcement officers: safety standards” into law. “The Legislature finds and declares that code enforcement officers are disproportionately at risk for threat, assault, injury, and even homicide due toREAD MORE
Community Engagement – “Neighborhood Academy”
The Jackson MS (recent recipient of 1 of 8 $100,000 “Love your Block” grant) Director of Planning and Development seeks to establish a “neighborhood academy”. The purpose of the academy would be “to provide homeownerREAD MORE
Department of Justice Guide “Addressing Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties”
This Department of Justice guide :offers ideas to help policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community partners address the challenges presented by foreclosed and abandoned properties” Included in the guidance was the recommendation to “launch aREAD MORE
Shelby County Environmental Court Virtual Learning Series
Though facing a federal lawsuit , Shelby County Environmental Court commenced a virtual learning series. These meetings provide the public with a chance to learn about environmental court and ask questions of Shelby County Environmental CourtREAD MORE
Tuscaloosa Silo Busting Anti-Blight Initiative
City of Tuscaloosa & The University of Alabama-Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Admin have developed a new patent-pending camera-based system to streamline the battle against deteriorating properties. This system involves cameras mounted on cityREAD MORE