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For Immediate Release
2/14/08
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Senators Pippy, Rhoades Unveil Measures to Combat Blight

Giving communities the tools to prevent and remediate abandoned properties. 

Harrisburg – Sen. John Pippy (R-37) joined Sen. James Rhoades (R-29), legislators and others to announce legislation that would help municipalities prevent blight and remediate abandoned properties.

Pippy, chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee was on hand Tuesday for a news conference that also announced the findings and recommendations of a statewide Blight Task Force convened by Sen. Rhoades.

Pippy said blight is not just an urban problem, with it affecting smaller communities and rural areas as well.

“Blight is one of those problems that cause such a ripple effect, it’s sometimes hard to appreciate,” said Pippy. “It depresses property values, of course. And it promotes crime. But, just as bad, blighted properties send a signal to the whole community that hope is lost, that no one cares, and that the neighborhood’s best days are behind it.”

One measure, the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act sponsored by Sen. Rhoades, 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, a requirement supported by Sen. Pippy.

“If you’re not maintaining property ‘A,’ why should we give you a permit to build or occupy property ‘B?’” said Pippy.

Sen. Pippy’s legislation would establish the “Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act” or “PHARE.” Through this initiative, the underfunded Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency would be given the resources to develop programs to build, rehabilitate and preserve homes for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities.

The proposals are supported by 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.

Pippy said the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on the package this spring in Pittsburgh.

“Combating blight isn’t easy. There are parts of the problem that are beyond mere legislative solution. But we must do what we can to confront blight’s message of despair, property by property, community by community,” said Pippy.

* Additional information, including video of the news conference and the findings and recommendations of the Blight Task Force, are posted on the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee web page at www.senatorpippy.com.

CONTACT: Greg Mahon (717) 787-5839