[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTENT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN THE NEXT CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THE 
 PROBLEM OF VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES IN OLDER, INDUSTRIAL CITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, Youngstown and Akron, and nearby 
cities like Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, suffered 
severe job and population losses over the past 25 to 30 years. This has 
led to the loss of thousands of housing units to abandonment and decay. 
The subprime mortgage crisis has only worsened the problem in these 
cities, ravaging entire neighborhoods in its wake, leaving thousands of 
vacant and abandoned houses that attract criminal activity and trash, 
and are safety hazards to the families who remain. The abandoned 
properties also lower the property values of those who remain, and 
frustrate neighborhood improvement efforts.
  Although the Housing and Economic Recovery Act we passed in July will 
provide some assistance to cities to demolish vacant and abandoned 
properties, a more comprehensive, regional, approach is needed to 
address this problem in the so-called ``shrinking cities'' and their 
metropolitan areas.
  Youngstown, under the leadership of Mayor Jay Williams, has already 
taken a big step in this direction by adopting the Youngstown 2010 
Plan, which envisions Youngstown, which once had a population of 
170,000, becoming a smaller, but more vibrant city of about 80,000, 
with revitalized neighborhoods, and abundant green open space that will 
be used for parks, urban agriculture, and future economic development. 
Some of its land might actually be reforested. Youngstown is also 
working with other local governments to develop a regional strategy to 
address vacant and abandoned properties, which are becoming more and 
more commonplace in suburban areas around Youngstown.
  We need to unleash the creative energies present in Youngstown, and 
other cities and metropolitan areas, by assisting them to develop and 
implement plans to eliminate the blighting influences of abandoned 
properties, gain some control of the vacant land in their residential 
areas, and reposition themselves for the challenges of the 21st century 
as vibrant, livable communities.
  To this end, Madam Speaker, I am working with my good friend, 
Congressman Brian Higgins of Buffalo, to develop legislation that would 
establish a new demonstration program within HUD, the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development. The program would be competitive. In 
order to successfully compete for assistance under it, a local 
government would need to partner with other jurisdictions within its 
metropolitan area. For example, a county government might be an ideal 
partner for its central city.
  The partners would need to develop a plan that takes into account 
their population losses, and sets forth strategies to make better use 
of land and other resources within their boundaries. Grants awarded 
under the program could be used for, among other things, demolition, 
removal of old, antiquated infrastructure, the creation of parks and 
open space, code enforcement improvements, the development of real 
property information systems, and the creation and expansion of urban 
and regional land banks, which are widely recognized to be a key tool 
in efforts to promote investment and revitalization efforts in areas 
with very weak real estate markets.
  Applicants would also have to submit detailed implementation plans, 
and would have to meet stringent accountability standards in carrying 
them out.
  I would also like to mention that Mr. Stephen Cerny, who is currently 
serving in my office as a Brookings Institution Legislative Fellow, has 
provided me with tremendous help on this issue. Steve is an attorney at 
HUD and a former planner in Cleveland, and I am very grateful for the 
extensive professional experience he provides on this issue.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with you and the 
Committee to bring this program to fruition.

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