It is found that there are many residential properties within the corporate limits
of the city that have become vacant through various processes. Many of these structures
or sites have become vacant by foreclosure or have been abandoned by owners who, for
various reasons, have no longer found them acceptable for either habitation, ownership
or economic purposes. Further, it is found and declared that some of these properties
have been and continue to be elements contributing to the deterioration of neighborhoods
and the depreciation of property values in the neighborhood in which they are located.
This situation leads to what constitutes a serious and growing menace injurious to
the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the city. It is
further found and declared that the existence of such vacant dwellings contributes
substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes economic
and social liability, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of urban areas
and exacerbates a growing urban slum condition. Further, it is found that this form
of blight is present in the inner city to a much greater degree than it is in the
outer city, although the condition is found to exist throughout the city. Many of
the residential properties that have become vacant are rehabitable. They are not totally
without economic use and, if rehabilitated, could house citizens who need housing
as a result of a variety of reasons, among which are displacement by eminent domain
proceedings and a lack of housing starts due to general economic conditions.
(b)
It is further found that many other urban centers throughout the United States have
been confronted with problems similar to this and have developed systems of urban
homesteading. The economic impact of rehabilitating homes alone is sufficient to justify
a program of urban homesteading, notwithstanding the additional benefits procured
through such a program. Home ownership has been found to be beneficial to the maintenance
of property. Expectation of home ownership has been found to be beneficial to the
fruition of housing rehabilitation and homes in private ownership that are rehabilitated
increase the tax base of a local government. A decrease in the providing of certain
public services, such as police and fire protection, is an additional and indirect
benefit to be derived from the rehabilitation of housing.
(Code 1977, § 8-5030)
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