A recent article from NJBiz discusses a conditional veto from Gov. Phil Murphy on legislation that would have required the Department of Community Affairs to create an online database and interactive map of residential propertiesREAD MORE
City of Mobile to use Plexiglass to fight blight
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
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
GOPC Report “Misconceptions About Vacant Property Registries” – an Analysis
In September of 2018 the Greater Ohio Policy Center issued a report “Misconceptions About Vacant Property Registries”. The report provides an overview of Vacant Property Registration Ordinances along with guidance for communities seeking to implement theREAD MORE
It Started Out So Well……….
An interesting article that discusses a logical and positive approach to addressing the universal concern of squatters, ends by discussing troubling legislation being proposed in the Hawaii Legislature. From the preamble in the legislation oneREAD MORE
Don’t Take on Unnecessary Risks
Perhaps I’m missing something but the recent enactment in Windber, PA of a rental registry struck me as odd. Rental registration ordinances are commonplace throughout the country. For the most part the programs and requiredREAD MORE
NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Report “Foreclosure Update: Signs of Progress”
Mortgage foreclosure filings across New York state dropped 46 percent between 2013 and 2018 according to a report issued by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, titled, “Foreclosure Update: Signs of Progress” Interestingly, local communitiesREAD MORE
Canton OH Commercial Property Registration Challenges
A recent article discusses the challenges Canton is facing garnering compliance with their commercial property registration ordinance. Eerily similar to an earlier article regarding San Francisco. See following quotes. Canton – “However, several vacant buildingsREAD MORE
Getting off the Hamster Wheel
True story. Several years ago, I was invited to present to the City Council and heads of the fire, police and building departments for a larger (200,000+) city on “zombie foreclosures” etc. First to arriveREAD MORE