A bill that would broaden Wilmington’s powers in condemning rundown and abandoned properties has been tabled, reportedly after a meeting on the topic this week that pitted community activists against those seeking to deal with the issue.
The Wilmington delegation to the General Assembly issued the following statement.
“The issue of longstanding vacant and abandoned properties has persisted in our city for years and is only continuing to get worse. Many agree that we need to do something, but there has been a lot of disagreement about specifically what to do.
“House Bill 458 was put forward as a means to empower Wilmington officials, giving them the authority to take action about vacant properties that serve as magnets for crime and diminish the financial security of surrounding homeowners. However, a lot of questions, concerns, and misunderstandings about what this bill does and does not do has sparked considerable discussion in our neighborhoods, among community leaders, and throughout the City of Wilmington.
“We love the city in which we reside and know that doing nothing is not an option. But we also understand the concerns community members have raised and the desire for more conversation about this proposal. For those reasons, we have agreed to hold HB 458 this session. We are hopeful the ongoing dialogue will bring us closer to a mutual understanding among the city’s elected officials and its residents regarding Wilmington’s plan to encourage the development of safe and affordable housing.”
The city has struggled for years with the issue of abandoned and run-down housing that presents health, crime and safety hazards
However, fears of condemnation raised fears that property would be seized while efforts at rehabbing were underway.
Community activists have claimed that the legislation was introduced with little input from the community and came as a surprise to many.
