Mayor’s plan for vacant buildings
“What the mayor would like to do is have the city have the ability to take over a commercial property at fair market price, then transfer ownership to a developer waiting in the wings. That way, the city would serve as a conduit for commercial development at no risk to city taxpayers.
A case in point: The dilapidated former Walnut Street School, now in the hands of an out-of-county owner.
The building was purchased by a Lebanon County man in 2008 with the idea that it would be renovated. Instead, the building has sat vacant, amassing numerous city code violations. In February, a local district judge levied a $250,000 fine against the owner.
At Gray’s urging, the city’s property reinvestment board voted to fire off a letter to the owner, which set in motion a process that eventually could lead to the city Redevelopment Authority taking over the property by eminent domain.
But the process could take months, if not years should the owner decide to put up a fight.
Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/901328_Mayor-s-plan-for-vacant-buildings.html#ixzz2go0dY4Z8”
Lancaster Online 3 October 2013.