Abandoned Property in Indiana November 2006 Abandoned Property in Indiana A Profile in Leadership and Collaboration

2003 properties Mayor makes the issue a priority for the City Abandoned Property in Indiana 1 2003 Neighborhoods vocal about vacant and abandoned properties Mayor makes the issue a priority for the City Mayor calls press conference to announce “War on Abandoned Houses” (February 2003) Mayor announces series of short-term and long-term objectives Mayor assigns one full-time staff person to the issue Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson

Abandoned Property in Indiana 2 2003 / 2004 Vacant Houses Inventory in partnership with Ball State University Inventory indicated 7,913 vacant residential houses Abandoned Houses Work Group formed Directed initial research to produce meaningful recommendations Bruce Baird Housing Development Administrator

2004 to represent diverse community stakeholders Abandoned Property in Indiana 3 2004 Work Group appointed by the Mayor to represent diverse community stakeholders Report 1: Reclaiming Abandoned Property in Indianapolis Report 2: Revitalizing Indianapolis Neighborhoods: A Framework for Linking Abandoned Houses and Redevelopment Initiatives Abandoned Houses Work Group

Abandoned Property in Indiana 4 2005 First attempt at legislative amendments National Vacant Properties Campaign grant and technical assistance NVPC technical assistance team met with 20+ city, county, & community representatives Administrative and legislative recommendations offered by NVPC technical assistance team Evaluation of NVPC recommendations by 2 local attorneys Technical Assistance & Expert Review

Abandoned Property in Indiana 5 2005 Early consultation and negotiation with county treasurers and auditors Mayor’s legislative team drafts proposed legislation Mayor’s legislative team secures bill sponsors from Fort Wayne and South Bend (Senators Wyss and Broden) State Legislative Proposal

2006 SB 341 passed Senate (50-0) and referred to House Abandoned Property in Indiana 6 2006 SB 341 passed Senate (50-0) and referred to House SB 341 died in House committee; no vote taken Neighborhood reaction: press conferences and multiple letters to the editor Reforms resurrected in Conference Committee as HB 1102 HB 1102 passed House (72-25) and passed Senate (50-0) 2006 Indiana General Assembly

Abandoned Property in Indiana 7 New Legal Tools One tax sale per year (rather than 2) Properties not sold in single tax sale transferred to county executive Tax sale process shortened by 6 months for vacant and abandoned properties Broader range of properties may be certified to expedited tax sale Unsafe Building Law violators are excluded from bidding at tax sale Abandoned Property in Indiana 7 Improving the efficiency of the tax sale process

Abandoned Property in Indiana 8 New Legal Tools Increased and multiple civil penalties for Unsafe Building Law violations Civil penalties may be collected as special assessments and included on property tax bills Performance bonds may be required as a condition for allowing additional time to bring a property into compliance with an Unsafe Building order Increasing the carrying costs of abandoned and vacant properties

Abandoned Property in Indiana 9 New Legal Tools Establishment of a land bank is allowed under the law Multiple property disposition options are provided for all Indiana counties Expanding the range of property redevelopment options