MuniReg Blight Alert

We're pleased to provide you with the latest updates and national best practices regarding the mitigation of vacant and abandoned properties, specifically tailored to meet the needs of municipal governments like yours.

Please feel free to share this valuable information with your colleagues or any other relevant parties within your municipality.

For those who may be new to our newsletters, we typically release them on a monthly basis, occasionally bi-monthly at most. Given the interconnected nature of community challenges, solutions developed elsewhere could offer invaluable insights for your own municipality.

At MuniReg, we're committed to understanding the unique pain points municipal governments face in combating "blight" and offering tailored solutions to address these challenges effectively.

This alert serves solely for informational purposes. Should you wish to explore how MuniReg can assist your municipality further, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

Revolutionizing & Game Changing Blight Mitigation Technology

Blight surveys are changing for the better.

As provided in a blog post from City Detect "City Detect’s AI-powered technology can provide near-real-time, complete coverage of your municipality’s infrastructure in days."

The expedited data collection and expanded usage are already making a huge impact across the country.

As evidenced by recent reporting from Stockton CA, the day-to-day operational results have left city officials "blown away"

To view the blog post, please click here.

Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Report

A new report has been released from the Pennsylvania General Assembly on the status of municipal property maintenance code enforcement. Both municipal officials and property owners and developers were surveyed on their roles and experience with property maintenance code enforcement and blight.

Comparative state research was also conducted on municipal property maintenance code enforcement policies nationwide.

For more information, please click here .

When Blight Can Really Impact the Bottom Line

A recent NPR feature discusses the possibility of blight and public safety as threats to the military’s continued presence in Escambia County (FL).

However the good news is there is a strong recognition of the potential economic impact and "as the military seeks to be more efficient, local leaders are more eager than ever to be good neighbors."

For more information, please click here.

Overview of Various State Responses to Squatters

An article in Stateline discusses the increasing focus on the issue of squatters. "So far, lawmakers in at least 10 states have floated legislation this year that would address squatting by revoking tenancy rights, making it easier for police to remove squatters or making squatting a criminal offense. Several have quickly enacted new laws."

To view the article, please click here .

Property Rehab Tax Breaks

Senate Bill 2936 recently passed the Illinois House of Representatives. The bill seeks to extend home remodeling tax breaks to homeowners and investors in blighted neighborhoods.

Right now, only newly built single-family homes and duplexes in those neighborhoods qualify for the tax break.

For more information, please click here.

Banning Eviction Bans

Trying once again.

Missouri state legislators have advanced for the third time, a bill "that bans municipalities and other local governments from creating and enforcing any eviction moratoriums unless they are authorized by state law.

The bill now awaits the signature or veto of Gov. Mike Parso

For more information, please click here .

Lawyers to the Rescue?

A recent interview on the Talk Justice podcast titled "Lawyers Can Help Revitalize Neighborhoods" discusses the St Louis Neighborhood Advocacy Program and its successes in tackling the legal problems that create lingering neighborhood blight.

To listen to the episode or read the transcript, please click here .

Center For Community Progress 2024 VAD Academy

"The Center for Community Progress' VAD Academy is a virtual bootcamp designed for public, private, nonprofit, and community leaders confronting challenges related to vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties in their communities"

Their most recent event was held June 5th and 6th.

Their materials (presentations, recordings, reference etc.) has been posted on their website. They are available by clicking here .