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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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