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Councilors press administration to prioritize residents in upcoming in-rem sales program
Summary
Council members discussed a resolution and administrative options to prioritize owner-occupants for tens of thousands of at-risk parcels and asked administration and law to explore mechanisms to limit speculators and enable resident purchases.
Council members told the Committee on Finance that the city should use the upcoming in-rem (in-remission) sales process to prioritize local residents and owner-occupants rather than allow out-of-town speculators to buy large swaths of property.
Council members said administration staff estimate about 6,000 parcels could be candidates for in-rem sale and noted there is $10 million budgeted to cover back taxes. Several members urged the city to develop targeted programs—such as owner-occupant preference periods, targeted sales or city acquisition of select parcels—to preserve neighborhoods and create pathways to homeownership.
Council member Bowman and others said they will work with administration and law to explore legal and programmatic options. The administration and taxation staff were asked to report back with options, and members suggested partnering with lenders, credit unions or HUD programs to support future owner-occupants.
Next steps: The committee tabled formal action to allow staff and legal counsel to evaluate state law constraints and potential policy designs and requested a follow-up meeting with administration and law to advance an implementable proposal.
