Councilor seeks tax on vacant Lynn properties

LYNN – Fed up with the rising number of abandoned and vacant homes in the city, Ward 4 City Councilor Richard Colucci has proposed that a 10 percent real estate tax be tacked on to the problem properties in order to get the mortgage companies that own them to take control of the chaos.The idea came to Colucci through word of mouth that the city of Providence, R.I. was enforcing a similar condition that ultimately puts pressure on the mortgage companies that own the neglected homes.”We need a home rule petition for it, but I think it will work out well,” he said. “I think this will make the banks try to sell or dispose of the homes quicker.”Colucci said once a home is foreclosed on, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is made aware of the situation. Now, Colucci said a tax bill would be sent to the bank to pony up the added funds to the city.”Once these places are abandoned, the banks take over, but I’ve had a lot of places in Ward 4 that ISD has boarded up, but have had squatters living in,” he said. “That just costs the city money and this 10 percent tax would give the city relief from fixing the places up.”Under the new proposal, the added tax would be billed beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and will be on top of any other taxes authorized by general or public laws.The tax would be calculated from the value of the property at the rate of $10 for every $100 of the value assessed by the city Tax Assessor.Aside from Colucci’s proposal, Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi has requested that three separate properties be demolished – 411 Broadway, 419 Broadway, and 32 Judge Road, due to their neglected status and has three or four others that he is looking at as well.”Some of these properties have grass that hasn’t been cut in years, have furniture in the yard and are just aesthetically unpleasing,” he said. “ISD is doing a fine job boarding these homes up, but the banks aren’t declaring them legally foreclosed, so the owners are legally obligated to take care of the property, but they just walked away from all of the fines and citations.”Lozzi said by issuing the particular properties a demolition order and holding a public hearing for them, he hopes it will open the eyes of the mortgage company and/or the owner to step up and take action.The City Council voted in favor of instating a law through the state legislature to place a lien on properties so outstanding fines would have to be paid first before the home is sold.However, Lozzi said the proposal stalled in the legislature, so the council plans to resubmit the idea for consideration.”If the home rule petition is successful, then the city can recoup losses for cleaning up the properties,” he said.Ward 7 City Councilor Richard Ford said he has also been dealing with vacant homes in his neighborhood and is frustrated by the situation.”I drained three pools on Fenton Avenue, Northside Ave., and Myrtle Street, and I cut the grass at two homes on Myrtle Street,” he said. “I want to hold mortgage companies responsible for these disgraceful homes that have been repossessed or for whatever reason.”Ford said he has contacted the real estate companies advertising the homes, but so far has not heard back from them.”They just don’t care,” he said.