In February, Pennsylvania’s new “Abandoned and Blighted Property
Conservation Act” takes effect. The law allows neighboring individuals and
non-profits to take over, then rehabilitate, rent or sell long-vacant buildings
that are nuisances and economic detriments to the community.
With our community and business leaders let’s explore opportunities for
taking action under this law. How might our Mayor and councilpeople
assist citizens in deployment of this new tool to help us eradicate the plague
of blighted properties in our residential and business districts?
Or will we continue to hold individual property rights so inviolable as to
forfeit the health of our communities to tax delinquents, speculators and fiefs
despite the assist from the State?
