Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man shot in back near Akron park
Suspect sought in Portage Path bar robbery
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
Who Will Get the Michael Media Treatment Next?
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Summit County targets the fallout from abandoned houses
Published on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
Thus, plans for an Abandoned and Vacant Property Task Force in Summit County are crucial. Neighbors face depreciation of their own properties near abandoned houses and overgrown yards. In addition, they live with the risk of vacant properties becoming magnets for vandalism and other crimes. For local governments, the cost of foreclosures is equally steep, from loss of property-tax revenues to the expense of securing and maintaining vacated properties. The price tag to Cleveland and several other Ohio cities in 2006 for a range of services, including mowing lawns and boarding up some 25,000 properties was estimated at about $63 million.
During the next six months, the task force will identify properties that are vacant, thus providing a clearer view of the extent and severity of the problem. The group also will recommend best practices to reduce the blight created by abandoned lots. Meanwhile, the county is pressing ahead with a program that will use a federal grant to buy, salvage and sell some abandoned properties, raze those that are too far gone and bank the land for future use.
The concerted effort should help ease the sense of helplessness in neighborhoods struggling to maintain a grip on the value of their homes.
Get the full article here.

