BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN From Challenges to Opportunities APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL City of Chattanooga Department of Economic and Community Development

Blight Reduction Plan Key Objectives Focused Resources – Redistribution of Inspectors – Collaboration with CPD – Strategic demolitions Streamlined Judicial Process – City attorney court appearance reduced by 50% – Streamlined litter & overgrowth process accelerates blight removal by 6 weeks – Reduced court citations issued by 68% during June Proposed Innovation Area – Reduce abandonment and blight – Restore down-zoned duplexes to duplex use to provide affordable housing – Implement new boarding guidelines

Table of Contents BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL I.Introduction II.Understanding the Problems: Numbers and Challenges III.Addressing the Problems: From Challenges to Opportunities IV.Measurable Outcomes V.Summary VI.Next Steps

Understanding the Problems During 2014 Fiscal Year: 7,647 Code Violations 43% - Overgrowth 24% - Litter 18% - Housing 12% - Inoperable Vehicles. Court action was required on 52% of cases. BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL

Districts 7, 8 and 9 accounted for 64% of all code violations North Chattanooga in District 2 accounted for 10%

The concentration of abandoned structures and prior violations were used to divide the workload. As an added benefit, inspectors check abandoned structures regularly to be sure they are secured and to address exterior code violations. Police are notified when there are signs of vagrant or illegal activity. Concentration of Abandoned Properties

Crime Overlay Map

Challenges Taking so many Overgrowth & Litter violations to court is not an efficient use of resources. Attending Court is often not an effective deterrent to keep frequent offenders in compliance. Housing violations involve property owners unable to make repairs, uncooperative landlords, irresponsible lenders and abandoned structures. The Unintended Consequences of Down- zoning Sections of Districts 7, 8 & 9 are heavily blighted and challenged by abandoned properties. The majority of code violations occur in Districts 7, 8, 9 and North Chattanooga. BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL BLIGHT REDUCTION PLAN APRIL 2015 PROPOSAL

From Challenges to Opportunities Challenge The majority of code violations occur in Districts 7, 8, 9 and North Chattanooga. Opportunity Assign Code Inspectors accordingly. CPD/ECD Hot Spot Collaboration Opportunity Assign Code Inspectors accordingly. CPD/ECD Hot Spot Collaboration

New Targeted Assignment Areas

CPD/ECD Hot Spot Collaboration Strategic Code Enforcement supports police efforts. Code Enforcement is used to shut down crime hot spots.

ECD, CPD and CFD work together to resolve challenging blight at a business

From Challenges to Opportunities Challenges Sections of Districts 7, 8 & 9 are heavily blighted and challenged by abandoned properties. The Unintended Consequences of Down-zoning Opportunities Use targeted approaches to solve problems in the most challenged defined geographic area (Pilot Program Area). Return Duplexes to their original use. Institute new boarding rules Strategic Demolitions Opportunities Use targeted approaches to solve problems in the most challenged defined geographic area (Pilot Program Area). Return Duplexes to their original use. Institute new boarding rules Strategic Demolitions

Proposed Innovation Area Citico to Glass & Holtzclaw to N. Chamberlain Proposed Innovation Area Citico to Glass & Holtzclaw to N. Chamberlain We propose using an innovation area where a high number of down-zoned duplexes exist and restore their multi-family zoning status. We identified 53 unused, down-zoned duplexes that are boarded within the innovation area. Restoring these multi-family structures to their original use will reduce blight and potentially provide affordable housing for over 100 families.

Proposed Innovation (Test) Area Citico to Glass Holtzclaw to N. Chamberlain

Milne Street (2000 block) N. Orchard Knob (1400 block) The Unintentional Consequences of Down-Zoning

Denied Special Use Permits to Re-use Duplexes (2007 – 2010) 1413 N. Orchard Knob Avenue Over half of these are in the pilot area Since 2007, only 1 duplex has been awarded the special use permit to re- instate the structure to its original intended use.

New Boarding Rules for the Innovation Area Boarded structures create blight. We propose requiring boarded structures to use polycarbonate which looks like typical windows but is virtually unbreakable and sturdy well-secured doors.

Strategic Demolitions in the Innovation Area There are 155 abandoned structures within the 1 sq. mile Innovation Area, 102 are single family houses. Demolitions will be prioritized Dangerous Structures No Longer Viable or Substandard Blocks of Heaviest Crime & Abandonment

Desired Outcomes of the Innovation Area Reduced blight - Improved appearance, interest and occupancy Decals covering boards Measurable Outcomes: Reduced number of blighted and boarded structures The number of dangerous structures demolished by area Increased number of down-zoned properties returned to productive use Decals covering boards Measurable Outcomes: Reduced number of blighted and boarded structures The number of dangerous structures demolished by area Increased number of down-zoned properties returned to productive use

From Challenges to Opportunities Challenges Taking so many Overgrowth & Litter violations to court is not an efficient use of resources. Attending Court is often not an effective deterrent to keep frequent offenders in compliance. (Court fines are not always levied.) Opportunities Compliance without Court Preventative Maintenance Initiative (PMI) Back-Tax Property Sale Violation Notifications Strategic Acquisitions Use other City Programs for Assistance Use Available Legal Processes Administrative Hearing Officer Support Neighborhood Clean-ups Opportunities Compliance without Court Preventative Maintenance Initiative (PMI) Back-Tax Property Sale Violation Notifications Strategic Acquisitions Use other City Programs for Assistance Use Available Legal Processes Administrative Hearing Officer Support Neighborhood Clean-ups

Compliance Without Court Proposed Changes Compliance without Court Change Notices of Violation Highlight the possibility of $50 per day fine Reference Preventive Maintenance automated presentation Overgrowth and Litter Violations No court—Notice of Violation only for vacant properties Notice of Violation/court citations for occupied properties Court Fines Criteria required for court fines will be outlined by the changed N.O.V. and Preventive Maintenance automated presentation. Frequent Offenders Personal outreach & Preventive Maintenance Initiative classes will educate and encourage compliance. Request daily fines

Preventive Maintenance Initiative Automated Presentation on Chattanooga.gov Explains Code Violations Compliance Guidelines/Expectations Assistance Programs/Applications Online Registration In-person for those without internet Explanations of penalties

Sales of Back-Tax Properties Notify prospective buyers of code violations in bid packages prior to sales. Identify back tax properties with violations on our website. Buyers of properties from Real Property sale will be required to correct violations by June.

Strategic Acquisitions Correct blight around City properties such as schools and YFD centers by foreclosing on liens, using spot blight acquisitions, property donations or direct purchase. Properties could be used for parks, housing, economic development, and/or improved infrastructure (such as increased parking). 2010, 2012 and 2014 Wilcox Blvd (below) could easily add parking to the Avondale YFD Center. (2010 is currently City/County property)

Other City Programs Land Bank Property Rental Rehab Assistance Expanded Home Repair Development Incentives using Federal Funds

Legal Strategies File Nuisance Actions for the Most Severe Blight Extremely difficult cases and possible foreclosure Require a Bond for Large Demolitions Those exceeding $100,000 Administrative Hearing Officer Fines up to $500 per day for repeat offenders

Measurable Outcomes The number of violations in the target areas found during annual systematic inspections An increase in the percentage of cases brought into compliance without court actions An increase in the percentage of fines issued on court cases The number of down-zoned multi-family structures returned to use in the Innovation Area A decrease in the number of boarded structures without the illusion of windows and doors in the Innovation Area

Summary We believe we can reduce blight by implementing the following strategies: Assigning inspectors to the most blighted areas Implementing an innovation area to allow down-zoned duplexes to be used as duplexes, require boarded structures to have the illusion they are not boarded and using strategic demolition strategies. Speeding litter and overgrowth abatement for unoccupied properties by skipping the court process Using property owner education and heavy fines to maximize housing compliance Implementing an Administrative Hearing Officer Filing nuisance actions for the most severe blight Requiring lenders to maintain properties they initiate for foreclosure on Acquiring blighted properties near City, County or institutional properties as an enhancement Informing prospective back-tax property buyers of existing code violations Supporting neighborhood clean-up efforts by following up with systematic inspections Using Strategic Code Enforcement to support CPD efforts at crime hot spots

Next Steps Inspectors have been reassigned to the most blighted areas. Ongoing support of neighborhood efforts through systematic inspections Notices of Violation have been modified in CityView & the court process is now being skipped for litter & overgrowth cases on unoccupied properties. Submit Innovation Program requirements to Donna Williams for City Council review Work toward automated PMI on website