Amending Chapter 6 New Section 6-37.2 Addressing Accountability Buildings Vacant

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Subs to Bill No. 14 -13 Ordinance No. 10230-13 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 8 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE ADDITION OF NEW SECTION 6 -37.2 ADDRESSING ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT ACTIONS ON BUILDINGS DECLARED VACANT OR ABANDONED STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On November 27, 2007, the South Bend Common Council passed Ordinance No. 9810 -07 which established a registration and maintenance program of vacant and abandoned buildings in the City of South Bend, Indiana. It was noted that the City had earlier announced on May 29, 2007, a 3 -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 % ". That program had a "comprehensive strategy" where 400 derelict houses were to be demolished in targeted neighborhoods. The program was developed on a Department of Code Enforcement survey conducted in May 2006 where 621 houses were identified as being both vacant and abandoned, which then represented 28% of all vacant houses in the City. It also was reported by the South Bend Police Department at that time that arsons and removing scrap metal had increased in the vacant houses. An "Urban Homsesteading Program commonly referred to as the "Dollar House Program" was established consistent with Indiana Code § 36 -7 -17, where Community & Economic Development capital improvement funds were used to acquire "marketable buildings ". All of the above - referenced programs were based on the "broken window" concept which basically provides that when a broken window is left unrepaired, that it leads to more broken windows and gives the appearance that no one cares for the property or protects the property. It also was based on data and information shared at the I" National Conference on "Reclaiming Vacant Properties: Strategies for Rebuilding America's Neighborhoods ". The "Vacant & Abandoned Properties Task Force Report" was made public in February, 2013. The Mayor shared information at the March 4, 2013 Residential Neighborhoods Committee where he projected that it would cost approximately $6,000 each per demolished home and approximately $50,000 per home which is rehabilitated. The Mayor also called for "A thousand homes in a 1,000 days" to be torn down. Based on the projected costs and the millions of tax dollars already spent on vacant and abandoned homes, the following ordinance is needed to provide greater transparency to the process in light of the short and long -term effects. The proposed regulations are aimed to ensure that a well - thought -out plan has been developed for the each of the neighborhoods where demolition is proposed to take place. This ordinance is believed to be in the best interests of the City of South Bend, Indiana. Section I. Chapter 6, Article 8, Section 6 -37.2 of the South Bend Municipal Code is amended to read in its entirety as follows: