Published on: Fri, 09/07/2007 - 12:10
Historic Saint Paul’s Preservation Talks panel discussion on vacant housing (Saint Paul’s Vacant Properties: Refuse or Reuse?) attracted a crowd of over 100 city officials, planners, neighborhood activists, community developers, realtors, architects and community members. The talk centered on the threat that vacant houses pose to Saint Paul’s unique sense of place and community character. The panelists included:
- Ed Johnson, Executive Director, West 7th/Fort Road Federation
- Bob Kessler, Director, Dept. of Safety and Inspections
- Steve Magner, Vacant Properties Supervisor, Dept. of Safety and Inspections
- Marcia Moermond, Lead Policy Analyst, City Council Research
- Amy Spong, Historic Preservation Specialist, Heritage Preservation Commission
The panelists cited the rise in foreclosures as a major contributor to the vacant housing problem. They also stressed that the city lacks the resources to cope with all of the 1,300 registered vacant properties in Saint Paul. Therefore, the city and neighborhood groups are exploring new tools that can help neighborhoods cope with the onslaught of vacant properties and preserve neighborhood fabric. Suggestions from the audience included:
- Reenacting the This Old House Legislation, which provided tax incentives to homeowners that invested in their properties;
- Enacting a “demolition delay” clause in the city ordinance that would allow the Heritage Preservation Commission to review demolition permit applications;
- Working with banks and investors to acquire vacant housing.
The Pioneer Press covered the event in a story titled Mortgage ills a threat to homes. According to reporter Tim Nelson:
Mayor Chris Coleman has included measures to help homeowners avert foreclosures as part of his $25 million Invest St. Paul initiative, and Ed Johnson, of the West 7th Federation, says banks have taken to accommodating additional faltering borrowers, even in recent days. “They seem to want to avoid foreclosure,” he said, “just about at any cost.”
But the crisis is exacting a terrible toll in the meantime, said Moermond, the council researcher who also plays a key role in enforcing the city’s property codes and demolishing the worst buildings.
“Right now, we’re all ‘weed’ and no ‘seed,’ “ she said. “We have this hammer but no way to go back and get things growing again.”
Historic Saint Paul hopes that the Preservation Talk will foster increased dialouge about the need to preserve the city’s vacant housing stock. Additionally, Historic Saint Paul will continue to explore potential tools to ameliorate the vacant housing problem and preserve neighborhood fabric.
