The Neighborhood Services Department has a specialized group of Neighborhood Preservation Inspectors that address blighted properties in cases where structures are found vacant and accessible. This group also addresses properties and vacant lots where the ownership is absent, the owners have been unresponsive and compliance with the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance has not been obtained.
The abatement process begins with the issuance of a Notice of Ordinance violation granting the owner 35 days to correct the violations and it culminates with the contractual cleaning and/or securement of a property if compliance is not achieved. If the property is contractually abated, the cost of the work is assessed to the property in the form of a lien. This is done to recover the costs of the work performed.
Common violations on vacant properties include:
· Accumulation of trash
· Overgrown and/ or dead vegetation
· Graffiti
· Open and accessible structures.
