City announces plan to deal with abandoned, vacant properties - KPTV - FOX 12
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Just about every neighborhood has an abandoned home or vacant property that becomes an eyesore for people living near it.
In some cases, neighbors report those properties attract crime.
The city of Portland is now working to help fix the problem.
The city is establishing a plan to help keep track of the properties to make sure everyone's neighborhood is safe.
Mayor Sam Adams announced it was in the process of creating the Vacant Properties Resolution and that would require people who own those properties to go online and register with the city.
Under the plan, property owners would have to pay a fee and include full contact information for all vacant, abandoned or distressed properties.
The city said this system will ensure that they know how to contact owners and require them to take responsibility.
People who live near some of these properties are happy to see the city is taking action.
"I think it's a very positive step because neighborhoods degrade one step at a time or get better one step at a time and this is definitely a step in the right direction. It helps get rid of places where people are inclined to criminal activity can hide," said Craig Rogers, who lives in the Mill Park neighborhood.
The city said if the owner fails to register their property within 30 days, that would result in a series of fines that increase each time.
For more information about this plan, visit: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=411020%3E
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