SAN ANTONIO – A pilot program aimed at getting owners of vacant properties to keep them well-maintained is seeing early successes, according to the city’s Office of Historic Preservation.
Since the program began in January 2015, the city reports a 9 percent drop in police calls and a 17.75 percent decrease in EMS and fire calls to vacant properties.
The city’s Vacant Building Registration Pilot Program requires owners of vacant homes and commercial buildings to register with the city and work to keep the outside of the structures well-maintained.
Of the 350 properties identified when the program rolled out, 65 of them are either now occupied or well-maintained and no longer subject to the program.
“The standard of care really applies only to the exterior and requires that the building look like someone could occupy it if they wanted to,” said Shanon Miller, director of the Office of Historic Preservation. “So windows and doors are repaired, there aren't architectural features missing, awnings are repaired.”
According to the city, homes between 150 feet to 450 feet away from a vacant structure could see property values decrease between roughly $3,500 and $7,600. The closer a home is to a vacant property, the greater the potential decrease in value.
The program requires owners of vacant commercial buildings to register with the city and pay an annual $750 fee.
They must also post contact information outside the building so that an owner or manager can be reached, if needed.
Vacant homeowners must pay the city $250 each year.
That money goes into the city’s general fund and is used to fund the program, according to Miller.
The pilot program applies to vacant properties within the city’s central business district, historic neighborhoods, areas near landmarks and areas within a half mile from active military installations.
District 10 City Councilman Mike Gallagher said Wednesday that he would like to see the program expanded city-wide.
Meanwhile, District 2 Councilman Alan Warrick, questioned whether the program should apply to historic homes that may not be located within designated historic neighborhoods.
Miller said those ideas are ones her office will consider as it pushes to make the program permanent within the city.
The pilot program ends in June.