Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Vacancy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council begins process to register vacant properties; fee schedule proposed to encourage reuse
Summary
Council read a set of ordinances to establish a vacant/unoccupied property registration program and a tiered fee schedule intended to incentivize rehabilitation and cover city administrative costs; the measures were read for the first time and will return for later hearings.
Athens City Council on Oct. 6 held first readings on a package of ordinances that would create a program to register unoccupied and vacant residential, commercial and industrial properties and establish penalties and fees for noncompliance.
Council Member Alan Swank introduced Ordinance 103-25 to create the program and said its goal is to identify vacant buildings, assign owner responsibilities and speed rehabilitation to productive use. "What this hopes to do is to be able to identify those and then develop a program where they can be occupied and put to good use," Swank said.
Ordinance 104-25 would add definitions needed for the registration program, including "designated local contact" and "evidence of vacancy." Ordinance 105-25 proposes a graduated fee schedule for vacant-residential registrations (Year 1 $300, Year 2 $600, Year 3 $1,200, Year 4 $2,400, Year 5 and each year thereafter $4,800) and for vacant commercial/industrial properties (Year 1 $600, Year 2 $1,200, Year 3 $2,400, Year 4 $4,800, Year 5 and each year thereafter $9,600).
Mayor Patterson and council members framed the proposal as both a safety and economic issue. Patterson said vacant units represent lost economic activity and housing opportunities and urged considering the broader cost of leaving buildings idle. Council Member Spilnez (addressing the record) and member Swank noted concerns about deterioration, possible squatting and neighborhood impacts.
The ordinances were read for the first time; no final vote was taken. Council members said they engaged stakeholders — the Westside Community Association and the Affordable Housing Commission provided feedback — and that further committee work and public comment will follow before any adoption.
Next steps: The ordinances will return for later readings and committee consideration where staff will supply implementation details and cost estimates.
