Warren council adopts vacant-property registration ordinance, approves registry agreement

The Warren City Council on Sept. 15 approved a foreclosure and vacant‑property registration ordinance and a proposed agreement with a third‑party property registry firm to identify and track foreclosed and vacant properties in the city. City staff and the vendor said the program is intended to give the city timely contact information for responsible parties and reduce neighborhood blight.

City planner/risk staffer Randy Rossi told the council that abandoned or foreclosed properties can become “a burden to the neighborhood and the city” and that property registration is a “tool in the toolbox” to protect neighborhoods and property values. He said the planning commission and the city’s redevelopment authority reviewed the proposed ordinance and recommended council approval. A recommended effective date in the ordinance is Jan. 1, 2026.

Kevin Sydella, introduced as a representative of ERA Property Registry LLC, described the company’s services: staff would build a city…