Demolition by Neglect: Use It or Lose It
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.30.07
abandoned building in Buffalo
Yesterday we wrote "Nobody should be allowed to neglect a building until it falls down;. Use it or lose it." We also have complained before about demolition by neglect, and said there aughta be a law. Turns out, there is precedent for this; In London's borough of Islington, they have a "Use it or lose it" law. It's part of "a massive initiative to bring as many of these abandoned resources back into use."
Local Councillor Terry Stacey said: "Empty properties are ghastly eyesores, and attractive only to those intent on crime. All too often an empty property can become a haven for squatters, prostitutes or drug dens. This is a criminal waste - particularly when there is a national shortage of accommodation for people in housing need." If the council is unable to persuade the property owners to take pride in their properties, a dedicated officer has the power to force the landlord into a compulsory purchase or compulsory leasing scheme. ::Islington
RENE JOHNSTON/TORONTO STAR This former rooming house at 1495 Queen St. W. caught fire in 1998 and was expropriated by the city last year.
In Toronto, according to the Star, A new group of housing activists wants the city to take over neglected and underutilized buildings and convert them into affordable housing.
"Buildings and spaces that are sitting around unused or extremely underutilized could be expropriated by the city and turned into affordable housing or community centres," said David Wachsmuth, a founding member of Abandonment Issues, "a Toronto-based coalition of housing activists fighting to get abandoned and underutilized buildings and spaces in the city turned into affordable housing." ::The Star
It frustrates me and saddens me when we drive anywhere out here (southern Georgia, US) because there's all kinds of places that are being reclaimed by the woods. Old family houses from the 1800's, a honey store that's all brick with clay tiles...all kinds of things. When I see them, all I see is waste. It's one of those "If I ever manage to win the lottery..." kind of things.
You can always squat and in the UK after 12 years you can have the deeds to the land. If there is no claim, the property is yours...
David R. Kelly
Sounds like a great initiative not only to combat warehousing/neglect, but also to improve density.
Unfortunately, Americans are so attached to property rights (including the right to let properties become havens for crime) -- this law would be difficult to get political backing for in all but the most dire of shrinking cities. Still, we can hope that someday we'll be ready to follow this example...
Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan the Historic Preservation Ordinance has a Demolition by Neglect section that often has been used to save neglected buildings - it's a handy tool when dealing with exploitive absentee owners.