Lots and lots of lots......

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Since I touched on the issue of abandoned homes in my last post, I figured the next logical issue to discuss would be their resulting empty lots. My Northside street is slowly being opened up to more and more "green space" with an ever increasing amount lots. On the whole, this is a good thing but there are unfortunately many issues surrounding the lots themselves.

First, the city has a program that makes it possible for owners of adjacent properties to purchase the lots. The problem there is that you have to go through a mandatory class, fill out oodles of paperwork and then ultimately pay the city a pretty penny for relieving their tax burden for them. The city needs to remember that many of these lots haven't collected taxes in DECADES. The city is forced to maintain these lots (poorly BTW as anyone who's seen their slash and smash "mowing" efforts can attest to). The lots have become a magnet for illegal dumping. On my block, the neighbors have decided to use the lots as their own personal ATV / GoKart track. Instead of neghborhood parks, the local children have empty lots to play in, which in many cases are littered with demolition debris, broken glass, etc.

I have always thought that the city should completely streamline the process of lot acquisition. Have the property owner go down to City Hall, fill out papers for the lot(s) they want to claim and then add a small payment to the real estate taxes for a number of years. In the agreement the owners would agree to maintain the lot, keep it free from debris and to not build any permanent structures on it until paid off. In return they would have the right to use the property, defend against trespassing and prosecute for illegal dumping. Oh, and owners of rental properties would be exempt and not allowed to purchase lots. We have enough problems with multiple dwelling homes and renters in this area without making it more attractive for them to live here. I'll most likely touch on that issue in a seperate posting.

Now, let's say the adjacent owners do not want the lots or can't afford the extra payments/maintenance fees.... I say give them a few years to change their minds and then allow neighborhood associations to purchase the lots for the good of the neighborhood. Or have the city maintain the lots in trust and give the neighborhood association permission to use the lots for the benefit of the community. In such cases, the lots could be turned into community gardens, playgrounds, well managed green spaces, urban orchards and more. The neighborhood association would also then be able to or be required to post surveillance systems on the property which monitors the property AND surrounding areas, seriously cutting down on crime and curfew violations.

I have so many ideas to help the city. Some are practical, common sense ideas and others are a bit more "pie in the sky". If more people were trying to think of simple solutions to these problems, things would improve so much faster around here. Of course, ideas will only get you so far, you have to actually do them. Not make a plan based on your idea, put it in comittee to review the plan, plan for planning the plan some more, budget for the planning of the plan, put the plan on a website with a schedule of comittees who will be discussing the plan, hire an "expert" to rewrite the plan, re-review the plan, and then scrap the plan all together because too much money was wasted in the "planning" process. If you can't tell, I have a thing against idiotic governmental beaurocracy. Living in Youngstown, it's a major pet peeve :)

Ok, guys, what are your ideas for empty lots? I would love to hear more suggestions on this issue.