For Immediate Release
2/12/08

Contact:

Mary Beth Dougherty
(570) 773-0891

- Sen. Rhoades
- Sen. Pippy
- Press Conference

Statewide Blight Task Force Findings and Recommendations (PDF)

Rhoades Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Blight

HARRISBURG – Sen. James J. Rhoades (R-29) introduced legislation that would help municipalities prevent blight and remediate abandoned properties at a Capitol press conference today. 

“Blight is a serious problem in our communities, and it is not restricted to urban areas,” Rhoades said. “Blighted buildings are a hotbed for illegal activity in suburban and rural Pennsylvania as well, and they have a negative impact on a neighborhood’s property values and tax base.”

The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act would expedite the process of prosecuting owners of blighted properties and give municipalities the authority to go after the financial assets of negligent owners. The bill would clarify the identity of property owners and hold them responsible for the municipal costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures. 

“Under current law, when a property becomes blighted, the local taxpayer usually ends up footing the bill,” Rhoades said. “My legislation would hold landlords accountable for the costs that blight places on our communities.” 

Property owners would also be required to bring any property they own that has serious code violations which threaten the public’s health and safety into code compliance before they could obtain any municipal or state permits or approvals for any other property they own in the Commonwealth. 

The legislation would also help reduce blight by allowing a conservator to be appointed by the court to manage a property before it becomes blighted. The bill would also expand the ability of redevelopment authorities to assist municipalities with blight remediation, as well as requiring mortgage lenders to maintain properties where a default occurs until there is a new owner. 

Rhoades’ legislation was based on the findings and recommendations of the Blight Task Force, a statewide coalition of housing and municipal organizations dedicated to tackling the problems of blighted and abandoned building across the Commonwealth. Members of the Blight Task Force include:

• 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania,
• Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania,
• Pennsylvania Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities,
• Pennsylvania County Commissioners Association,
• Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development,
• Pennsylvania Downtown Center,
• Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency,
• Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities,
• Pennsylvania Planning Agency,
• Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, and
• Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

“The Blight Tack Force is made up the foremost authorities on housing issues in Pennsylvania,” Rhoades said. “This legislation would not be possible without their devotion, knowledge and expertise, and all of the Task Force members deserve a great deal of credit for their hard work to tackle this complex problem.” 

Rhoades was joined by Sen. Pat Browne (R-16), Sen. John Pippy (R-37), Rep. David Argall (R-124) and Rep. Todd Eachus (D-116) for the announcement. Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley, Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, Lebanon Mayor Robert Anspach, York Mayor John. S. Brenner and Reading Mayor Thomas McMahon also were in attendance to support Rhoades’ legislation. 
 

  Print this page

 E-mail this page

Back