Neighborhood Revitalization
Everyone deserves to live in a neighborhood that's taken care of
During budget hearings in 2023, I asked city staff what we could do to help clean up some of these vacant and abandoned buildings and houses. I am very passionate about cleaning up neighborhoods. I think everyone deserves to live in homes and neighborhoods that are taken care of. Derelict buildings and homes attract crime and lower property values. City staff brought the Commission an idea to create a new Abandoned Building Ordinance, and it has been wildly successful since it was passed by the Commission in 2023.
Abandoned Building Ordinance
Approved by City Commission, July 24, 2023
The Ponca City Commission approved new rules to address abandoned buildings in the city. Here’s what this means in simple terms.
- What is an abandoned building?
- An abandoned building is one that is empty, not being used, and has been officially declared unsafe or in poor condition by the city.
- What will happen to abandoned buildings?
- The city can now create a list of abandoned buildings and charge property owners for costs related to inspections, cleanup, or other actions taken by city departments like Code Enforcement, Police, or Fire.
- How to get off the abandoned building list
- Property owners can petition to have their building removed from the list if they show progress in repairs or have a clear plan to address the issues.
- What about vacant buildings?
- Currently, the city can only regulate buildings that are deemed abandoned and unsafe, not buildings that are simply vacant. Vacant buildings often lead to neglect and lower property values, especially downtown. The city supports new state legislation that would allow local officials to regulate buildings that have been vacant for over a year, giving them tools to address blight before it becomes a bigger problem.
Fees the ordinance allows
- The cost of the actual work performed, like securing or cleaning the property.
- Staff time, at a minimum of one hour per visit.
- An administrative fee for processing and managing the property quarterly.
The goal of this ordinance
- To reduce the number of unsafe, abandoned buildings quickly and efficiently.
- To push property owners to repair or remove these buildings instead of letting them sit and become a problem for neighborhoods.
Results & Impact of the Abandoned Building Ordinance
October 7, 2024 update
The new ordinance has helped drive neighborhood revitalization, and we are starting to see some real progress. Below are before-and-after examples of abandoned buildings that are all now redeveloped, which were originally placed on the Abandoned Building List.
As Mayor, I will support initiatives to help clean up neighborhoods, lower crime and make Ponca City a more beautiful place to live.