Dear Editor,
It would be my opinion (and that of many other Augustans) that the biggest issue in our city (and most other urban centers) is the ongoing curse of urban blight. For the last 50 years (and more) urban centers across America have been struggling with this ongoing issue.
Our current and previous commissions have attempted to one degree or another to address this, primarily through the Housing and Development Department. And they have, to a degree, had some success, but there is nearly unanimous agreement that it is far too little.
I have spent many hours over the last eight years looking at solutions used by others that appear to succeed on an on-going basis. The trials and errors and successes of most major cities are there for all to see. We need to take a closer look at the methods which work. Most appear to involve some sort of land bank that takes possession of these blighted/abandoned/derelict properties using enhanced legal avenues. These properties are then offered to individuals or developers at minimal to no cost but require that the property be redeveloped (to varying standards) within a certain period.
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I am advised that our land bank apparently cannot adequately pursue these avenues, at this time, due to legal issues that would require changes to state law. Our local delegation has not yet, to my knowledge, engaged on these issues. Currently, one long-standing approach involves the routine tax sale of distressed properties. In some cases, this works well, when the actual ownership of the properties can be determined. However, many of these properties have delinquent taxes that are far greater than the property’s value. Additionally, the cost of demolition of a derelict property may be more than the value of the land. On top of all that, even when purchased a buyer cannot begin any renovation for a year after the sale because of a Georgia law that allows the original owner to reclaim the property at very low cost. This is hardly conducive to redevelopment.
I am not a real estate attorney, so I do not claim to understand the intricacies that make these problems so complex. However, I do understand that those who sit in the seats controlling these matters need to come together in a good-will effort to streamline the process so that private citizens, small contractors and others can obtain these properties and return them to the tax rolls. Turning a derelict property from an eye sore into an attractive tax paying home or business is the goal. The only question is, does our current leadership have the knowledge, skills and attitude to do that on a substantial scale. Is it time for the commission to convene a round table to begin attacking this scourge in a holistic way?
Sincerely,
Phillip A Williams
Augusta, Ga.
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