Comprehensive Neighborhood Rescue Plan

By Justin Jeffre

A new way to approach rebuilding neighborhoods that uses what we have in abundance to endow and empower our Community Councils.

Currently, we have an abundance of vacant buildings that are in varying states of disrepair. We have a labor force that is unskilled and unemployed. We have few available jobs that are mostly low paying service sector or retail. We have the hoarding of properties by special interests that use city government to drive our small property owners out using vacant building licensing and our Housing Courts as a tool. The corporate approach benefits very few residents.

Our property values are negatively impacted by vacant or abandoned buildings. These breed crime and provide space for unwelcome elements in our communities. These properties are being carried on the tax rolls but are contributing nothing to the common good of the city. Costs increase to provide police and fire protection when a building is vacant. To take these negative elements and reverse the trend is the challenge.

I propose we rehabilitate our abandoned buildings through the common effort of all our neighborhoods for their direct benefit. With city support we can endow our communities for their future needs by taking these liabilities and using them as the assets that they are. Our Community Councils, in a collaborative effort with our High Schools, Colleges, Unions and Trade Schools will provide academic support coupled with Building and Restoration Contractors providing oversight on projects. Community members would identify the problem properties, inspect and evaluate the potential use and needs to resurrect and restore them to use. Some are be beyond repair and should be removed. Vacant lots can be rebuilt or turned into community gardens and green space. Some properties whould be offered for sale to individuals based on their doing the needed work. Proceeds would be placed into a trust account that would fund future projects and support community needs.

Local contractors would be hired to rehabilitate and remediate any health hazards. A part of the agreement with the contractors would be that they hire people to serve in On-The-Job training programs (OJT) from the unemployed work force. These trainees would learn trades and develop skills that will enable them to support their families and improve their lives. Trainee's pay could be subsidized during the early years to allow for a living wage.

Any construction loans would be secured by the real estate and once completed the property would be rented or sold. Proceeds would go back into the trust fund for future use. These homes could be offered to low income families, seniors, teachers, public employees etc. The community would direct the program because they are best suited to determine what their needs are. Renters equity programs could be used to turn responsible tenants into homeowners. This would give people "pride of ownership" and a reason to take care of the property.

All decisions need to be carefully evaluated with sensitivity to the local real estate market. Properties cannot just be "dumped" on the market without adverse impact. By taking control of our problem properties we can return them to a condition where they will be habitable and revenue producing. The benefit to the neighborhood is twofold, the Neighborhood Trust Fund would become an endowment over time and local people will get jobs, training and opportunity while making our city safer and our property values rise. Community Councils would retain control and provide direction for the use of funds and properties in the future.