Cuyahoga County Land Bank is Successful!

Two years ago, the Cuyahoga Couty Land Reutilization Corporation (CCLRC) was created.  The organization, also known as the Land Bank, is a non-profit corporation committed to community revitalization.  Since its inception, CCLRC strives to acquire abandoned properties and give them to communities for redevelopment or designate them for demolition, effectively combating the real estate speculation
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Chicago Will Hold Banks Accountable

Recently, the City Council of Chicago approved an ordinance that will hold lending institutions responsible for the maintenance of foreclosed properties. Prior to this move, community groups have been increasingly vocal, responding to rising crime rates in the past few months. According to residents, abandoned buildings become “crime havens” for squatters, gangs, and drug dealers,
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City of Newark, NJ – Owners of Vacant Properties Must Register with the City

Beginning August 1 2011, the City of Newark, NJ will require owners of inhabitable vacant residential properties to register with the City and to maintain and secure vacant properties.  Under the recently-passed Vacant Property Ordinance, failure to do so will lead to fines and Municipal Court action. “Abandoned and neglected properties, if left unaddressed, can
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New Orleans Redevelopment Authority Auctions off Abandoned Houses

In eastern New Orleans, individuals from 24 cities in six states bid for and bought 90 houses through the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority program.  NORA requires each bidder to significantly restore properties within a year and agree to live there for three years.  Jon Johnson,the City Councilman who represents an expanse of neighborhoods east of
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District of Columbia’s Vacant Property Registration + Regulations Guidelines

The District of Columbia’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs identifies, registers and classifies vacant buildings in the area.  The DCRA also provides a guide to vacant property regulations to ensure the compliance of D.C. residents: http://www.dcra.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/Inspections/Housing+Code+Inspections/Register+or+Report+a+Vacant+Property