Mark, I think it would be most helpful to provide the standards for being placed in the Blighted category and exactly what has to be done to be removed from the blighted category. For instance, if the property is just a vacant lot, what has to be done here beyond removing the weeds and trash. If you remove a building in the blighted area would it still be blighted as a vacant lot.
I represent the property owner in tearing down the old Jack Hardy home at 41 Sandhill Rd across from Maverik. If I ever get the asbestos removed and the house is gone, will the vacant lot be blighted?? If so why would you want it torn down?
At this point I must add that the City of Mesquite (COM) Public Works Dept has been most generous, once again, in aiding me in many ways to get this house removed. They have offered the service of burning the house down and removing the remains as well as expert guidance on how to do it properly. Without that help and guidance I could not have progressed this far.
Historical markers the City has placed on some properties and vacant lots are excellent does this remove them from the Blighted category?
The blighted category designation adds another burden on the property owners in attempts to rent or sell their properties.
Other re classifications of blight such as Ole Town or Historic sites would be in order. As you are aware, there is no incentive now for property owners to spend money to fix up their properties as there is little chance of renting or selling it.
They have sat in review of THEIR RDA funds being wrongfully diverted to boondoggles outside the blighted area. If you were one of the property owners would you fix up your property??
In fairness there must be some direct remedial relief to these property owners to make up for the great length of time RDA funds were misused in violation of the specified intent for which THEIR TAXs was collected.
I suggest that the COM has already established some degree of remedial relief by extending City Public Works resources to tear down, burn, and remove blighted properties on Ole Mill Rd and now to burn down and remove the remains of the old Jack Hardy House when the asbestos is removed. This COM service would remove a large financial burden from property owners and would be an incentive to improve their property. The City could not be expected to provide this service except on a very limited basis. Therefore RDA funds could be used to Contract out for this service. It is the practical thing to do.
Mayor Mark Weir, we owe you and the newly elected City Councilmen our thanks for returning our City to us, even exposing TAXs we didn’t know existed. Based on what you have already done in office, providing a solution to begin addressing the blighted area with money saved from another boondoggle of the Misconstrued Indoor Soccer Tent you are expected to continue this type of leadership and guidance to us.
Thank you,
Don Muse
Pro active Community Activist