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Here's the dirty little secret of DC's demolition by neglect law: It's rarely enforced because the burden of proof is so high and when it is enforced, convictions are a rare occurrence. If a person doesn't have the money to pay for a massive renovation, what's a judge going to do? Throw them in jail? Force them to sell? Neither option is likely to survive either on appeal or in the court of public opinion. So most of these owners make bare minimum repairs and there's not much more the city can do about.

And just how serious is the city about dealing with vacant and blighted properties when all it pays for is a measly 2 inspectors to cover the entire city? How many slowly deteriorating properties are DHCD and DCHA sitting on? What's the downside to those agencies' inactions?

Articles like this are informative and may lead to the local politicos pounding a table and saying how outrageous it is. But will it lead to an increased budget for inspectors? Nope. Will it lead to anyone at DHCD or DCHA being fired? Nope. Will it lead to a re-thinking of the city's vacant property strategy? Nope. Vacant properties are simply not enough of a big problem in enough areas to get the city's political class' attention and money.

by Fritz on Aug 10, 2011 8:00 am • link • report