A Little Less Conversation and a Little More Eminent Domain
Back in 2003, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s office unveiled a list of the top 10 problem owners of abandoned homes in Indianapolis. In 2007, under the Mayor’s direction a number of city agencies are doing “weed and seed” operations to clean up several areas of town. I will compliment the Mayor for efforts that improve the quality of life for city residents. However, there is also a tool at the administration’s disposal which I don’t think it’s using enough. It’s called eminent domain.
It may seem a little odd that I would be an advocate of eminent domain after the big fiasco following the whole stadium deal and the NK Hurst Bean Company. However, my recommended use of eminent domain would be just what the doctor ordered. The city should use eminent domain to deal with its abandoned housing problem.
According to a 2004 study by the Mayor’s office, there were approximately 7900 abandoned vacant residences in Marion County. Which was about one out of every 30 homes, most were located in Center Township. There is some dispute over the current number of vacant homes, some estimating about 12,000 currently. Regardless of the number, vacant homes are magnets for all sorts of crime, the latest being arson and sexual assault.
What this city should do is use the power of eminent domain as spelled out by recent changes by the Indiana General Assembly and take these abandoned properties and either demolish them and replace them with “mini-green lots” or sell them for $1 to a developer and have them rehab the properties. There is no reason why these vacant homes should continue to be magnets for crime, drugs, arsons, etc.
Eminent domain is not evil when used for the right purpose. And the right purpose is ridding this city of vacant residential properties.
