Reduce the number of blighted housing units

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

1. Identify and map neighborhoods with high concentrations of “distressed housing” – house by house, street by street – with a focus on housing in “poor” and “very poor” condition.

2. Engage property owners (identified through M.G.L. 139 process), community-based corporations, neighborhood-based institutions, potential investors/developers, financial institutions, and others to identify financially feasible preferred re-use/ re-development, or reduction, scenarios for vacant properties.

3. Develop a city-wide plan with specific action items for each distressed property (e.g., maintenance, redevelopment, selective demolition, community garden/open space, parking, etc.). Engage financial institutions, education and corporate partners, neighborhood stakeholders, residents, and community-based organizations in the development and the execution of the plan.

4.    Create an interim management program of vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed properties (e.g., receivership, Foreclosure Ordinance) to assist in the acquisition and management of these properties. This program should include funding to assist with board-ups, and monitoring of these properties.