Interesting article from the other side of the world pertaining to property rights when addressing vacant property. Article also includes a video interview with Australian property law expert Professor Cathy Sherry from Macquarie University. ArticleREAD MORE
Solar arrays as a blight solution
Detroit MI Mayor Mike Duggan announced a new initiative to address blight by installing solar arrays in 3 residential neighborhoods. Mayor’s Press Release includes an overview, the land acquisition process and home improvement community benefitsREAD MORE
PA Local Government Commission “Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Report”
The Local Government Commission of Pennsylvania General Assembly, a bicameral and bipartisan legislative agency released a new report titled “Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Report” Contributions to the report came from Pennsylvania Statewide Blight Task ForceREAD MORE
Lawyers to the rescue?
A recent interview on the Talk Justice podcast titled “Lawyers Can Help Revitalize Neighborhoods” discusses the St Louis Neighborhood Advocacy Program and its successes in tackling the legal problems that create lingering neighborhood blight. ToREAD MORE
Georgia HB 1017 Georgia Squatter Reform Act
In late April, HB 1017 referred to as the Georgia Squatter Reform Act was signed by Governor Kemp. Per the Bill’s sponsor, “the legislation would fix antiquated laws protecting squatters. Without the bill, it isREAD MORE
Creativity from Down Under
A recent release from Australia’s Dept. of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, announces a new $5 million “Vacant Property Rental Incentive Scheme” designed to to convert vacant properties into long-term rental homes. This newREAD MORE
Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act
U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act to help public land banks acquire blighted properties. The Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act would: SupportREAD MORE
North Carolina Supreme Court Case Challenging Blight Mitigation Efforts
A recent report from WRAL discusses a North Carolina Supreme Court case about “whether racism has influenced Kinston leaders’ foreclosure efforts could have implications for the power of local governments across the state.” So farREAD MORE
Community Highlight: Las Cruces, NM Common Sense Approach to Sharing Vacant Property Information
MuniReg has never been a proponent of “advertising vacancy“. For severely dilapidated properties, that are clearly abandoned, posting for example a “Red X” doesn’t bring unwarranted attention. Other approaches, such as placards on the doorREAD MORE
Community Highlight: Aroostook County ME Assists Local Governments with Demolition Costs
A headline like this “Aroostook County landfill cuts towns a break on blighted buildings” shouldn’t be newsworthy, as collaboration between all levels of government should be the norm. However as it appears to not beREAD MORE
Community Highlight: Memphis TN Neighborhood Preservation Clinic
Previously reported in November 2022, The University of Memphis School of Law’s Neighborhood Preservation Clinic represents the City of Memphis in public nuisance lawsuits seeking recourse against the owners of badly neglected, vacant and abandonedREAD MORE
Community Highlight: Toledo OH Neighborhood Associations Website/Map
In a full length feature, WTVG discussed various efforts underway in Toledo to address blight. Community engagement is a critical component of any successful strategy. What we hope to be an ongoing feature highlighting uniqueREAD MORE