* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember McCray
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Addressing Vacant Housing through General Obligation Bonds
For the purpose of requesting the City Administrator, the Deputy Mayor for Community and Economic Development, the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Department of Finance, the City Solicitor, and the Director of the Department of Planning to appear before the Baltimore City Council to discuss the ways that loans through the Community and Economic Development Fund have helped to eliminate blight through vacant home demolition, provide an overview of projects that are currently being developed to resolve the vacant home problem in the City, and assess available funding sources that can be used to end the problem of vacant homes in Baltimore City.
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Recitals
There are 15,032 vacant homes in Baltimore City and less than 2,000 of these properties are City-owned. Across the City, vacant homes remain abandoned, derelict, and unoccupied. Historically, the 3 major contributing factors to vacant buildings in Baltimore City have been job and population loss, suburban growth, and segregation and discrimination.
Vacant buildings are the legacy of segregated housing and racial discrimination of the past, the remnants of policies such as redlining in the 1930's and blockbusting in the 1950's and 1960's. Many of Baltimore’s vacant buildings are located in historically segregated African-American neighborhoods in east and west Baltimore. According to data from the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, 8% of residential properties are vacant and abandoned in Baltimore City as a whole. Despite this City-wide figure, 15% of residential properties in African-American communities are vacant and abandoned, showing that past racist policies still have an impact on the City today.
Every 2 years, Baltimore City citizens vote on ballot referendums to issue general obligation bonds. Through this process, funds like the Community and Economic Development Fund can be created to allocate resources to eliminate blight. Monies are used to support efforts like strategic whole-block demolition, finance and provide incentives to private investors, and improve the appearance of commercial and industrial areas.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Baltimore City Council requests that the City Administrator, the Deputy Mayor for Community and Economic Development, the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Department of Finance, the City Solicitor, and the Director of the Department of Planning appear before the City Council to discuss the ways that loans through the Community and Economic Development Fund have helped to eliminate blight through vacant home demolition, provide an overview of projects that are currently being developed to resolve the vacant home problem in the City, and explore available funding sources that can be used to end the problem of vacant homes in Baltimore City.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the City Administrator, the Deputy Mayor for Community and Economic Development, the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Department of Finance, the City Solicitor, the Director of the Department of Planning, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.