Residents and council press for action on boarded-up housing; landlord-tenant ordinance delays criticized

Several residents raised boarded-up and vacant houses as a pressing problem for Carbondale during public comment, and councilmembers discussed reviving or changing the city—s approaches, including the landlord-tenant ordinance and rules permitting boarding up of vacant buildings.

Resident Brian Swoboda reported a deceased body found in an unsecured, boarded house next to his home and said numerous boarded properties depress property values, attract crime and harm the city—s reputation. "This is a plague upon the city," he said, urging the council to treat it as a crisis and seek solutions.

Other commenters, including Connor Sullivan Ayeda, criticized delays on a landlord-tenant ordinance that councilmembers had discussed in previous months and urged the council to bring the ordinance to a vote rather than defer it until after the election. Ayeda said public input opportunities had been adequate and that further delay risked leaving problematic landlords unchecked.

Councilmembers acknowledged the issue and debated the trade-offs of boarding up vacant buildings. Some members said boarding up signals vacancy and harms neighborhood appearance; others noted boarding can be necessary to secure properties and prevent theft or fire. Councilmember Doherty and Councilmember Lowes said they would like to revisit the ordinance and consider alternatives to boarding as part of broader efforts to return properties to productive use. Councilmembers also noted that some large property owners, including Southern Illinois University, hold vacant buildings that affect neighborhoods.

No formal action or vote on ordinance changes occurred at the meeting. Staff said community discussion dates were being organized and that residents could sign up for email notices; staff offered to provide a status update to council after the community discussions.