Residents want the city to pass an ordinance to allow the demolition of abandoned commercial buildings, but property owners say the rule would be problematic.
"Durham, like other cities in the Triangle, lacks the legal authority to deal with blighted nonresidential buildings. So when it comes to run-down places, the city can't force owners to clean them up or tear them down." In order to combat crime and low property values, the city has drafted a new ordinance that would allow dilapidated commercial properties to be demolished if they are not repaired, similar to existing rules for residential structures. Building owners say forcing them to repair or demolish could bring its own set of problems, as well as a hefty cost.
Thanks to Christian Peralta
FULL STORY: New approach to commercial eyesores

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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