VACANT HOUSE CAMPAIGN

Objectives

The objectives of the vacant housing campaign are as follows:

• Develop and implement a coherent, large-scale plan for addressing the vacant properties in Reservoir Hill.
  
  
• Develop implement a plan to ensure the swift and competent rehabilitation of properties sold through Project SCOPE.
  
  
• Ensure that such plans incorporate the vision of a mixed-income community
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• Stay ahead of the potential impending downturn in the real estate market.
  

Action Plan

Research & Analysis: The process of gathering and understanding information is the underpinning of RHIC’s vacant house work.

Monitoring: The ability to perform two levels of monitoring, monitoring city performance and monitoring activity on the vacant buildings themselves, is one of RHIC’s most important tactical tools.

Advocacy: The policy of consistently applying consistent pressure based on accurate information has moved the City to some action. The ability of community leadership to advocate effectively to City decision-makers will be vital to the success of any vacant house campaign.

Developing a house-by-house strategy: It is frequently said that every vacant house has a story – of who formerly lived there, who owns the property, and why it is now vacant. A comprehensive approach to solving the problem of vacants requires looking at each individual house and determining the best course of action, based on its story.

Focused Development: RHIC will be an active partner in the future development of Reservoir Hill as a mixed income community. The remaining publicly owned vacants represent a key opportunity to achieve this goal.

Results

The number of vacant properties in Reservoir Hill is decreasing. More than 100 use & occupancy permits have been issued since 2001.

RHIC has partnered with Baltimore City to implement a community monitoring program that tracks rehab progress, reports unauthorized and dangerous construction work, and identifies negligent property owners.

Baltimore Housing, with information and advocacy from RHIC, has forced the sale of four problem vacants through a process known as receivership.

Receivership filings are underway at more than 20 additional properties.

The Code Enforcement Legal section of Baltimore Housing is pursuing action at another 15 vacant properties.