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Motion Expressing the Sense of Allegheny County Council commending and supporting the City of Pittsburgh for introducing Bill No. 2007-1112 that would establish a program for identifying and registering vacant properties; determine the responsibilities of owners of such buildings and to speed the rehabilitation of vacant buildings and encouraging every municipality within Allegheny County to adopt a similar program.
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WHEREAS, vacant properties create costly problems, are unsightly, unsafe and have a negative effect on their surroundings; and
WHEREAS, vacant properties are harmful to communities because they indicate neighborhoods are in distress; and
WHEREAS, vacant properties discourage private investment, thereby stunting neighborhood redevelopment and growth; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has set an example for other local governments to follow, because their vacant property program will minimize the harm done by vacant properties to communities and help restore these properties to productive use; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that a program of this nature should reduce the tax burden for the residents of the municipalities which participate;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that we hereby commend and support the City of Pittsburgh for introducing Bill No. 2007-1112 which will establish a vacant property program to help improve the city's quality of life, and we recommend municipalities within Allegheny County consider adopting a similar program.