The Federal Reserve published an article on REO and Vacant Properties, specifically strategies for neighborhood stabilization. Research and commentary were received by nonprofit and municipal practitioners, the Federal Reserve, academic and policy researchers as wellREAD MORE
Charting the Multiple Meanings of Blight
The Vacant Properties Research Network, A project of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech in collaboration with Econsult Solutions, Inc. produced a national literature review addressing the community impacts of blighted properties. In the hopesREAD MORE
LSU Study Blight Increases Public Health Risk from Mosquito-borne Diseases
In February 2019, a LSU’s Department of Sociology study showed a statistical connection between homicide, blighted buildings and convenience stores in Baton Rouge. Now in February 2021, LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment releasedREAD MORE
Texas Judge Finds National Eviction Ban Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the national ban on evictions that’s been in place since September is unconstitutional. “Although the Covid-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution,” U.S. District Judge John BarkerREAD MORE
Clean & Lien, Clean & Lien & Settle….. Now Clean & Lien & CAP
Pinellas County FL is making changes on its code enforcement liens, demolition/condemnation programs, assumingly as a result of the well-publicized, late 2019 $100,000+ fine for a dirty pool and overgrown grass in Dunedin. For additionalREAD MORE
Flexibility in Duluth, MN
The Duluth City Council has amended an ordinance in an attempt to jump-start repairs to abandoned housing throughout the community. The revised ordinance is intended to remove a financial obstacle for people looking to redevelopREAD MORE
State, County and Local Collaboration on Brownfield Mitigation
A new agreement in New York State, between state agencies and municipalities in Orleans and Niagara counties will promote the redevelopment of dozens of potentially contaminated properties in the two counties. The agreement allowsREAD MORE
New Mexico – State & Local Collaboration on Abandoned School Buildings
A telling quote from a recent report on Senate Bill 43 underscores the potential value to local governments and its fight against blight. “It’s hard for local districts to place priorities in demolishing those buildingsREAD MORE
GAO Report on “Zombie Foreclosures”
On March 5th, 2021 the US Government Accountability Office released a report titled, “Home Foreclosures Sales: FHA, Rural Housing Service, and VA Could Better Align Program Metrics with Their Missions” Why GAO Did This StudyREAD MORE
West Virginia SB 42 the Zombie Property Reclamation Act of 2021
**Following up on the below post, SB 42 Zombie Property Remediation Act of 2021 has now been signed by the Governor and enacted. To view the final bill language, please click here.** On February 10th,READ MORE
Pennsylvania House Bill 372
On February 3rd HB 372 was introduced and referred to the Committee of Urban Affairs. HB 372 is titled “An Act providing for foreclosed property maintenance; imposing powers and duties on the Department of CommunityREAD MORE
Shelby County Environmental Court Facing Federal Lawsuit
In 1983, the City of Memphis created the Shelby County Environmental Court, a new division of City Court to handle violations of its health, fire, building, and zoning codes. In 1991, the Tennessee Legislature createdREAD MORE