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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-27-2013 Report to Address Vacant and Abandoned Properties in South Bend CSB ITY OF OUTH END PB,M ETE UTTIGIEG AYOR OM FFICE OF THE AYOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2013 Contact: Mike Schmuhl Phone: 574-235-9261 MAYOR BUTTIGIEG, COMMUNITY TASK FORCE RELEASE REPORT TO ADDRESS VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES IN SOUTH BEND Mayor Calls for 1,000 Homes to be Addressed in 1,000 Days SOUTH BENDMayor Pete Buttigieg and the Members of the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force released a major Report Wednesday detailing the extent of vacant and abandoned housing in South Bend and outlining recommendations on what various levels of government and the greater community can do to revitalize city neighborhoods. eport will serve as our foundation as this community rises to meet the challenge of vacant and abandoned properties, said Mayor Buttigieg. We have the facts and recommendations, tackling 1,000 houses in Mayor Buttigieg explained that the 1,000 properties would be addressed through a combination of demolitions and rehabilitations. The Report details how local government can measure the health of a neighborhood in order to come up with the best housing solution or reuse strategy for a given property or collection of properties. Mayor Buttigieg stressed the ambitious goal will require support from private and non-profit partners in addition to government funded efforts to tackle the properties. In producing its Report, the Task Force looked around the nation for the best practices in targeted code enforcement and land banking and looked to our own community for ideas to create stronger, safer, and greener neighborhoods, said Jim Kelly, co-chair of the Task Force with Mayor Buttigieg and Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame. I am 1400C-CB227W.JBSB,I46601 OUNTYITY UILDING EFFERSON OULEVARD OUTH END NDIANA P574/235-9261F574/235-9892TTD574/235-5567 HONE AX delighted that the Administration has embraced our recommendations and launched this bold initiative to transform the abandoned property problem in South Bend. Preventing homes and neighborhoods from falling into complete disrepair is a key element to the Report. As a continuation of this Report, the City will develop regular progress reports about its efforts to prevent, reclaim, and renew vacant and abandoned properties and make this information freely available to the public. Action Items In addition to the release of the Report, Mayor Buttigieg announced the following action items to jump start the work recommended by the Task Force: Mayor Buttigieg appointed Shubhada Kambli as the new Director of Code Enforcement for the City of South Bend. As part of her leadership duties, she will oversee the implementation of the recommendations from the Task Forces Report. Prior to working with the City, she worked on energy issues at the state, local, and federal levels of government. During this time, Kambli built multiple environmental initiatives, including an ENERGY STAR program for the US Environmental Protection Agency that improved the efficiency of local facilities in more than 150 cities and towns in New England. As a consultant and deputy project manager for the Cadmus Group, Kambli co-led a $1 million effort to gather and analyze energy building data for the State of Arkansas. A former AmeriCorps volunteer, Kambli also worked with local academic institutions and private sector organizations to create an energy education program for underserved students in Boston. She is a graduate of Tufts University, with a joint Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Environmental Health) and Urban Planning. Kambli also earned a master's degree from Harvard University in urbanism, landscape, and ecology. Mayor Buttigieg announced the City is preparing a bid to demolish 50 houses. The submission will be sent one week from Wednesday (March 6, 2013). Mayor Buttigieg announced new online tools at www.southbendin.gov for residents to report code violations. The full Report is also available to download by visiting the City of South Bends website. Mayor Buttigieg and Task Force Members Andrew Kostielney, President, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, and Rafael Morton, President, St. Joseph County Council, agreed to work on the recommendations in the Report that call for better cooperation and partnership between county and municipal government. Summary The Report begins with introductory letters from Mayor Buttigieg and Co-Chair James Kelly. The Report is divided into four major sections and supplementary materials, graphics, and charts can be found in the appendix. The four major sections include: 1.Data-Driven Decision-Making: Assessing the problem: The Report outlines market condition classifications to better understand economic and geographic factors behind vacant and abandoned property. The areas are classified in the Report as Conservation, Stabilization, Revitalization, and Reinvestment. 2.Code Enforcement: Tackling Vacant & Abandoned Properties: The Report recommends that Code Enforcement should promptly eliminate abandoned house nuisances. This response could be as simple as a repair order to bring a home within the code requirements or a full demolition of a severely dilapidated structure. 3.Land Banks & Tax Sales: Long-term Legislative Solutions: The Report recommends the City to partner with the County to start land banking efforts and reformation of the confusing tax sale process. 4.Resources & Reuse: Planning for the future: The Report recommends that vacant and abandoned properties be put to productive, positive use in our communities. Parks, Side- lot programs, community gardens, wildflower spaces, energy generation, and housing redevelopment are some of the creative options that should be explored. A helpful reuse toolbox can be found on page 53 of the Report. Announcement and Public Participation Mayor Buttigieg and the Members of the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force announced the Reports release on Wednesday morning at a press event at a home located at 902 Cottage Grove Avenue in South Bend. The home at 902 Cottage Grove serves as a good example of a home that was rehabilitated for future, productive use. The home was vacant and abandoned for nearly six years and was slated Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. (NNN) was able to acquire the property through the St. Joseph County Commissioners. The Department of Community Investment also worked with the NNN to fund the rehabilitation through the federal Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). On Wednesday evening, the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force will present the Report directly to the public at the Washington High School Auditorium from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. WHS is located at 4747 W. Washington Street in South Bend. Members . Mayor Pete Buttigieg , Co-Chair Professor James Kelly , Co-Chair Karen Ainsley , Executive Director, Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. Marilyn Gachaw , Community Developer, First Step Properties st Mark Gould , Assistant Vice-President and Community Relations Officer, 1 Source Bank Mitch Heppenheimer , Deputy County Attorney, St. Joseph County Penny Hughes , Realtor/Real Estate Investor, Hughes Investments Andrew Kostielney , President, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Anne Mannix , President, Neighborhood Development Associates, LLC Elizabeth Maradik , Planner, Department of Community Investment, City of South Bend Marco Mariani , Executive Director, South Bend Heritage Foundation Pam Meyer , Director, Neighborhood Engagement, Department of Community Investment Pete Mullen , Auditor, St. Joseph County Rafael Morton , President, St. Joseph County Council Ann-Carol Nash , Assistant City Attorney, Legal Department, City of South Bend Kathryn Roos , Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor, City of South Bend st Tim Scott , 1 District Councilmember, City of South Bend Cathy Toppel , Department of Code Enforcement, City of South Bend