COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS TACKLE
VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN AREA
On June 11th a van full of local leaders traveled to Building Court to display their concern and overall interest in the court and city taking definitive action to rid the Commercial Avenue business district of eyesores that continue to plague the district. Many of the buildings have been vacant and abandoned for up to 8 years. The Chamber is tackling the issue of Commercial Avenue redevelopment and has already conducted several focus groups to identify desires and visions for the district. In addition, the Commercial Avenue Planning and Development Committee of the Chamber has been meeting to improve overall conditions that are getting in the way of business attraction and retention. That would include crime, physical condition and esthetics, retail building conditions and deterioration, etc. The Chamber has lobbied hard for capital resources to help the property and business owners to make improvements to their buildings. The Commercial Ave. T.I.F. has appropriated $300.000 for Small Business Improvement Fund Program and the Special Service Area #5 has approved over $135,000 for façade improvements and has announced a signage rebate program as well. The blocks of 88th and 89th Commercial have been the source of an increased problem of buildings being boarded up and kept in that condition for years at a time. Those conditions create continued blight and undermine the revitalization efforts that the community would like to see happen within the district. The 11 community leaders were represented by Alderman Pope’s Chief of Staff. The urgency of forcing the owners to do something positive with those buildings was the main point in their attendance. The City Corporation Counselors Office and judge both understood the importance of timely action on the part of the property owners and admonished the private attorney’s representing the owners that something needed to occur before the October 8th return date and progress report. In another related matter, the Chamber director testified in favor of the proposed City Council vacant and abandoned building ordinance that would create major incremental requirements to the owners of such buildings. They range from entrance way lighting, burglar alarm systems, metal window and doorway coverings, etc. The proposed ordinance was passed at the June City Council Meeting after much opposition from financial institutions now stuck with foreclosure properties.
For additional information on the properties pictured below
please contact the chamber office. (773) 768-1221
