WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today discussed new legislation he introduced with Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) that would give federal aid to communities with vacant and abandoned properties and homes due to major population and job loss. Brown discussed a county-by-county report on population loss and a statewide analysis of vacant properties in a sampling of Ohio metropolitan areas.

“A vacant lot is more than just an eyesore—it can damage surrounding property values,” said Brown. “This bill will help revitalize communities that have been hard-hit by the housing crisis and population and job loss. By putting vacant properties and lots to good use, we can rebuild our downtowns and strengthen our communities.”

Brown introduced the Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act of 2009 with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Reps. Ryan and Brian Higgins (D-NY). This legislation would create a new, competitive  grant program within the U.S. Department of Housing and  Urban Development (HUD) targeted toward cities and metropolitan areas experiencing large-scale property vacancy and abandonment due to long-term employment and population losses.

Brown was joined on today’s call by Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio, a network that runs “ReBuild Ohio,” a statewide vacant property redevelopment coalition.

“The Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act would usher in a whole new era of federal urban policy, giving the many cities in Ohio -- large and small -- that have shrunk in population the impetus they need to reimagine themselves and to work collaboratively and rebuild for a twenty-first century economy,” said Brachman.

Brown and Brachman discussed how communities could utilize funds in the legislation to demolish abandoned properties, find innovative uses for old structures, and create green space.

Vacant housing blight slows neighborhood rejuvenation, reduces surrounding property values, and displaces resources from local firefighters and law enforcement.  In many cities, vacant properties account for half of the fires and one-third of the arson cases.

More than 30 Ohio cities have seen double-digit percentage decreases in their population since 1970.  A small sampling of percentage population changes in cities from 1970-2000 follows:

Akron -21%
Cincinnati -27%
Cleveland -36%
Dayton -32%
Euclid -26%
Lorain -12%
Mansfield -15%
Toledo -18%
Youngstown -42%
Zanesville -23%

This population loss has resulted in a concentration of vacant properties and dwelling units.  A sample of dwelling unit vacancy rates follows:

Akron 13.4%
Canton 14.8%
Cincinnati 21.3%
Cleveland 21.0%
Columbus 14.8%
Dayton 20.7%
Toledo 13.8%
Youngstown 22.8%

Brown will outline how Ohio communities could use funds from the Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act to rebuild blighted urban areas.

Brown’s full analysis of population loss and dwelling unit vacancy rates can be found in the PDF file at the top-right of this page.

The Community Regeneration Act was written in consultation with prominent think tanks such as the Northeast-Midwest Institute and National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as local neighborhood associations in cities across the country. While the Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act provides federal funds to cities and towns, it also creates new programs and councils that would offer technical assistance grants to cities through vacant property assistance providers and assigning staff through Intergovernmental Agreements.

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