Exit133.com: City Looking To Clean Up Blighted Properties

City Looking To Clean Up Blighted Properties (18. July 2006, 15:07 by Derek Young) ~

Today’s City Council study session included the idea of getting the city more involved in cleaning up blighted properties around Tacoma. The proposed changes to our code enforcement ordinances would enable staff to issue a notice to a blighted property’s owner, fine the landowner if needed, send in Public Works to clean up the property, and bill the owner for the clean up. What would then follow is the potiential for a lien on the property if the bill is unpaid. Of course this discussion needs to move up to the City Council for approval. This could be some exciting stuff heading our way.

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The process could work well if there were sufficient safeguards.

Right now, there looks to be a new generation of blighted properties on Tacoma Ave. Maybe the new law would help.

1 | Posted by Erik | Jul 18, 03:58 PM

”...send in Public Works to clean up the property, and bill the owner for the clean up.”

I was under the impression the City was already doing this. I know the City paid to have fences put up around problem properties along Tacoma Ave (South).

”...there looks to be a new generation of blighted properties on Tacoma Ave…”

You might be surprised who the owners are of the blighted properties on Tacoma Ave. It’s funny (strange funny, not ha-ha funny) how some individuals and organizations with very good intentions are making poor choices when it comes to managing their property.

2 | Posted by morgan | Jul 19, 09:39 AM

Much of that fenceing was paid for from community block grants and community groups.

3 | Posted by Marty | Jul 19, 11:15 AM

The TacomaCares program is supposed to be doing this and the dangerous buildings ordinance authorizes it. One very complex nuance is that landowners who want their building torn down but feel constricted by issues of zoning, neighborhood character, urban conservation or historic preservation can just let their building go and then get the City to help tear it down. Its called demolition by neglect and unfirtunately the code enforcers are not into nuance.

Are we really sure that code enforcement is the best mechanism to get this done?

4 | Posted by Michael | Jul 19, 12:51 PM

“Are we really sure that code enforcement is the best mechanism to get this done?”

With political willpower lacking to invoke eminent domain, I’m afraid so.

5 | Posted by morgan | Jul 19, 01:48 PM

I think a new program is being proposed because the Tacoma Cares prgram does not have enough teeth.

Eminent domain actions are expensive and often more than is required.

I think there are too many building owners that are not willing to renovate their buildings or keep them up but are waiting for someone to offer them a fortune to buy them out.

Too many people waiting for others to renovate an area does not work, everything just sits in disrepair.

A quick drive around the neighborhood surrounding the library shows that the blight downtown is still pretty overwhelming in some areas, especially the commercial buildings.