9810-07 Amend Chapter 6 - Add Section 37.1 - Require Registration and Maintenance of Vacant and Abandoned Buildings

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SUBSTITUTE BILL NO. 17`O~ ORDINANCE NO. ~ l~ C-ol AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 8, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD SECTION 37.1, TO REQUIRE REGISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On May 29, 2007, the City of South Bend announced athree-year, $6.825 million strategy to reduce the City's vacant houses by more than one-fifth, with the primary focus aimed at reducing abandoned houses by 72%. As a part of this comprehensive strategy, 400 derelict houses will be demolished and forty-five (45) distinctive buildings in targeted neighborhoods will be revitalized. This strategy builds on the City's existing work in Code Enforcement, on public-private home building partnerships with successful track records, and complements the national trend of encouraging home buyers to return to urban neighborhoods. Vacant and abandoned housing, as noted by the Mayor, is a nationwide problem. According to a May 2006 survey by the Department of Code Enforcement, South Bend had 621 houses that were both vacant and abandoned. These houses represent 28% of all vacant houses throughout the City. The South Bend Police Chief reported on March 1, 2006 that arsons had recently increased in vacant houses. On July 26, 2006, the South Bend Police Department Uniform Division Chief reported that there continue to be problems with people entering vacant homes and removing scrap metal. The City of South Bend has also established an Urban Homesteading program, commonly referred to as the Dollar House Program, pursuant to I.C. 36-7-17. This Program uses the Community and Economic Development capital improvement funds to acquire marketable buildings. Acquisition and rehabilitation are administered by not for profit community development corporations whose responsibilities include acquisition, specification writing, inspection, client selection and closing. The Common Council acknowledges the "broken window" concept as one reasgn this ordinance is needed, in addition to the many public health, safety and general welfare considerations. That concept provides that Aone broken window, left un- repaired, leads to more broken windows as it gives the appearance that no one cares for or protects the property; that that building becomes increasingly more deteriorated, and that the deterioration may have a ripple effect on other parts of the neighborhood. The following regulations would complement the current programs being implemented by the City of South Bend. The following regulations are aimed to bring such vacant buildings back into productive use.