How Can Legislative Solutions Address Vacant and Blighted Properties in DC?

Over the years, the Committee of the Whole has collaborated with the Department of Buildings (and its predecessor, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) to bolster staff resources and enhance enforcement efforts. While these initiatives have yielded positive results, they are hampered by gaps and deficiencies in the law. In summer 2023, Councilmember Mendelson’s office brought together a diverse group of stakeholders—including ANC Commissioners, Business Improvement District representatives, researchers, and District agencies—to assess the current laws governing vacant and blighted properties and propose legislative solutions. This group, known as the Vacant and Blighted Property Working Group, of which I was a member, explored everything from the causes of vacancy and blight to the tax sale process.

To address these issues, the Working Group proposed the “Vacant to Vibrant Amendment Act of 2024,” which aims to:

• Create an information sheet on “tangled titles” for funeral service providers to share with families.

• Expand the single-family home rehabilitation program.

• Codify a real property tax payment plan for low-income and senior residents.

• Revise definitions and adjust exemption timeframes.

• Increase penalties for failure to register, especially for repeat offenders.

• Establish a vacant property receivership process, modeled after Baltimore, allowing the District to acquire and sell properties to non-profits and developers.

• Require the Mayor to present a comprehensive vacant and blighted building plan to the Council every three years.

• Restructure Class 3 and Class 4 tax rates to gradually increase over four years, providing relief for struggling owners.

• Create a new tax sale process for Class 3 and 4 properties to facilitate foreclosure and auction for redevelopment.

• Introduce a tax credit program for revitalizing vacant and blighted homes and tax abatements for commercial properties.

This bill is grounded in the understanding that vacant properties can become nuisances and detract from neighborhoods over time. It includes measures to prevent vacancies, acknowledges that short-term vacancies often pose no issue, incentivizes property owners to reduce vacancy periods, and equips the government with tools to restore long-term vacancies. Collectively, these proposals will better position the District to prevent vacancy and blight, address legal violations, and return these properties to productive use.

In addition to my role in the Working Group, ANC 3/4G, led by former Commissioner Randy Speck, closely collaborated with Mendelson’s office to address vacant and blighted properties in our area for years. As of my last review, there are around 25 such properties, many exempt for construction. Nevertheless, we recognize that even one vacant or blighted property can disrupt the community. I’m proud that the ANC’s persistent efforts on this issue have led to a positive outcome.

The Council will hold a hearing at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024. You can sign up to testify here.