The city's newly-created Vacant and Underutilized Building Task Force presented proposed policy changes and new requirements for vacant buildings to the City Council's Governance Council Committee on Wednesday.
"You'll actually have buildings that have been vacant for years and are really hurting job creation or the opportunity for a building to recruit tenants to that building and increase their occupancy," said Lori Houston, director of Center City Development and Operations Department and member of the task force.
Other members include John Dugan, Planning and Community Development director, Rod Sanchez, Development Services director, and Shanon Miller, director of the Office of Historic Preservation.
The proposed policy would increase the minimum requirements that vacant buildings must meet. Currently, only the first floor of a structure must be secure to be code-compliant.
"If its no longer acceptable to just have it (boarded) up, if they're going to have to make an investment, they might as well bring it up to the standard of having a tenant," said Miller.
If passed, the increased code guidelines would require vacant buildings to look as though they are occupied, said Houston.
Property owners would be required to register their vacant building with the city and pay an annual fee of $250 for a single family building or $750 for all other buildings.
Owners must also post a placard on the building that identifies it as vacant and includes contact information.
Additionally, the policy would require owners to sign a "No Trespass Affidavit" to allow emergency safety personnel to remove trespassers and any time.
The proposal would apply to an estimated 800 structures in the Central Business District downtown and in historic neighborhoods.
During the presentation, some council members questioned whether the policy changes should include abandoned homes and structures in other parts of the city.
"The true goal is to increase the level of accountability among property owners. Make sure that plywood is not acceptable, that they are not a safety issue for the community," Houston said. "That is the goal."
The task force plans to present a refined presentation to the full City Council on June 4. Council could vote on the measure June 12.
To view complete information presented to the Governance Council Committee, click here to view a slide show.
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