Mike Meyer, Director of Housing and Real EstateDepartment of Economic and Housing Development

2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference

Organizing Statewide for Local Results: Utilizing State Tools for Local Success

Presentation Outline

Abandoned Property and Rehabilitation Act (APRA)

Targeted Neighborhood Revitalization

Complementary Tools and Investments

Case Study: Newark

Abandoned Property Rehabilitation Act (NJSA 55:19-81)

Must be vacant for at least six months Must meet one of four criteria:

In need of rehabilitation No construction for six months Tax delinquent one quarter, or A nuisance as defined

Tax foreclosure toolsAccelerated foreclosureSpecial tax sale

Vacant property receivership (possession)

Spot blight eminent domain Special rule applies for setting fair market

value

Status of Properties on Newark APL

Private Property Owner Rehabs

181½ -185 South 10th StreetWest Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

116 Peabody PlaceNorth Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

174-176 Keer Avenue South Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

742-744 Bergen South Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

38 Kent Street Central Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

75 Brookdale AvenueWest Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

14 Speedway AvenueWest Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

79 ½ Broad StreetNorth Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs14 East Kinney Street

Central Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

58 Crawford StreetCentral Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

91 Stone StreetCentral Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

170 South 9th StreetWest Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

256 Summer AvenueNorth Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

418 S. 18th StreetWest Ward

Private Property Owner Rehabs

79-81 Baldwin AvenueSouth Ward

NSP, CDC Rehabs

226 S. 10th StreetWest Ward

NSP, CDC Rehabs

54 Blum StreetCentral Ward

89 Garside Ave

Central Ward

NSP, CDC Rehabs

Meeker Avenue

225 Meeker AvenueWeequahic Park

225 Meeker Ave

Targeted Properties

Targeted Properties

573 S. 11th StCentral Ward

310-316 Clinton AvenueSouth Ward

446–450 Irvine TurnerSouth Ward

Targeted Properties

Fairmount/West Ward

Text

text

74 71 69 67 65

14

60 45

119

157

56

4

40

31

32

70

66

66

13

24

38

59

57 61

1784

1783

1782

1781

1780

17791800

1799

1798

1797

1796

1795 1815

1814

1813

1812

1811

1810

1829

1828

1827

1826

1825

20

PHASE 1 (HOME)

PHASE 1 (HOME)

PHASE 2 (NSP 1)

PHASE 2 (NSP 1)

PHASE 4 (NSP 2)

PHASE 4 (NSP 2)

PHASE 5 (TAX CREDIT, OTHER)

PHASE 5 (TAX CREDIT, OTHER)

GREENSPACE/STREETSCAPE

GREENSPACE/STREETSCAPE

OTHER DEVELOPER ACTIVITY

OTHER DEVELOPER ACTIVITY

NEW BUS STOPS

NEW BUS STOPS

PHASE 3 (NSP 2)

PHASE 3 (NSP 2)

2

2

3

3

4

4

West Ward Abandoned and Vacant Properties Restoration Project

West Ward Abandoned and Vacant Properties Restoration Project

Trees

Trees

Streetscape work completeStreetscape work completeStreetscape work completeStreetscape work complete

Bus stop benchesBus stop benchesBus stop benchesBus stop benches

Clean & Green Re-Clean & Green Re-entry program in entry program in

actionaction

Clean & Green Re-Clean & Green Re-entry program in entry program in

actionaction

Community gardenCommunity gardenCommunity gardenCommunity garden

Arbor Day tree Arbor Day tree plantingplanting

Arbor Day tree Arbor Day tree plantingplanting

Housing Housing rehabilitation in rehabilitation in

progressprogress

Housing Housing rehabilitation in rehabilitation in

progressprogress

New Kaboom park

Community garden

Building demolished

Clean & Green program

Blighted property

Trash strewn vacant lot

Urban Farming Stalled SDA owned land

Neighborhood-driven programming

Farm stands, CSAs, Food Coop, Plot it

Fresh

“Incidental, informal, recreational

use” not prohibited

Hawthorne Ave School/ Homestead Farming

Hawthorne Ave School/ Homestead Farming

Vacant Properties Registration Ordinance

• Inventory of approximately 1,160 abandoned properties• Vacant Properties Registration Ordinance

– Vacant residential properties• Requires owners of vacant properties to register with

City• Escalating registration fees• Owners who fail to register are subject to substantial

fines– Became effective August 30, 2011

Vacant Properties Registration Ordinance

Throughout 2011 sparse compliance (when ordinance initiated)

Between Aug 2011 and Aug 2013:

Targeted 169 “repeat” offenders

1,051 total properties registered from Aug 2011 to date

66 1st. Renewals in 2013 (at $1,500 each)

1 2nd. Renewal in 2013 (at $3,000 each)

Total of $578,000 collected from Aug 2011 to date

The Top 5 Banks/servicers that have paid the most include:

Safe Guard, Cyprexx, FTP, Chase, and 5 Brothers.