Article published June 06, 2008
Vacant-home law loved, hated
Opponents fear public list would leave property vulnerable
By IGNAZIO MESSINA
BLADE STAFF WRITER
The increasingly controversial proposed Toledo law to require owners of vacant buildings to register and pay a fee was vehemently denounced yesterday by a number of opponents and applauded by others during a lengthy City Council committee hearing.
If approved, the fee starts at $100 for residential buildings and increases the longer a property is vacant.
It tops out at $3,000 for residential buildings vacant for at least six years and $60 additional for each apartment unit over the eighth one.
The owner would be required to register after the structure is vacant for 90 days.
Owners trying to sell or rent their properties would be exempt from the fee.
Susan Frederick, the city’s manager of code enforcement, said the law would help the city fight owners who abandon their homes or businesses and cannot be located. She said taxpayers are often left paying for neglected property.
Over the last two years, the city has billed nuisance property owners $3.5 million for demolition costs and $660,000 for cutting lawns and cleaning up garbage, Ms. Frederick said.
During that time, only $35,000 has been collected, she said.
Councilman Tom Waniewski said he didn’t know how the law would help locate people if the city hasn’t been able to do so.
The proposed law was forwarded to council’s next regular meeting June 17.
Anna Mills, who buys and rehabs homes for rentals in the Toledo area, said several clauses in the law are unreasonable.
She said forcing people to list vacant properties on a public record essentially would create a shopping list for thieves looking to strip vacant homes of metal.
Ms. Mills also objected to the requirement that owners place a for sale or for rent sign to qualify for the fee exemption.
“Every vacant house needs permission from the government to be left empty and then your home goes on a public list that anyone can apply for,” she said.
Toledo police Chief Mike Navarre said thieves generally drive around looking for homes to target and would not likely request a public record.
The fine for not registering a vacant property would be $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third.
Patty Camacho, the lobbyist for the Property Rights Coalition, which represents Realtors and other business groups, supported the new law. Homes listed with a Realtor would qualify for a fee exemption.
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