Newark officials are proposing a crackdown on vacant properties in the city, using a program that would impose escalating fees the longer a house or commercial building sits unused.
The idea was prompted by resident complaints about vacant buildings, which often fall into disrepair, attract crime or rack up code enforcement violations like tall grass and weeds.
“I think this could be a valuable tool in addressing some long-term condemned properties that we have issues with, particularly those where we condemn them and the owner has elected not to make the repairs, and it’s causing issues for the neighbors,” Planning Director Renee Bensley said…