Highland Strip (university area)

[hgupta]

The area is on its way towards blight, especially as you get towards Park Ave, where check cashing, title loans, and pawn shops prevail. There's litter and weeds, and even a boarded up gas station. Even the area right at southern and highland is rough.

What I would like to see is a blight tax on boarded up buildings and residents. Maybe $100 per month for homes, and more for businesses. Most boarded up properties are owned by absentee owners just sitting on property hoping to make a quick buck when the neighborhood makes a comeback. The boarded up buildings devastate the surrounding neighborhoods, bringing down nearby properties with it. If you can't keep your property in good condition, you need to give it up.

[hgupta]

Or, even better, a split-rate property tax!

[memp600]

Meant to post this earlier, but I was able to talk to the guy who heads the redevelopment of Highland and he said that construction for the development is a go and should start near the end of the summer. You can now see a sign of it on where the Highland St. Church of Chirst used to be right next to Fox13 studios. The guy seemed very optimistic about the project and what it could do for future developments around the UofM area. Personally think that this will be very successful when its finished.

[Bears]

The area is on its way towards blight, especially as you get towards Park Ave, where check cashing, title loans, and pawn shops prevail. There's litter and weeds, and even a boarded up gas station. Even the area right at southern and highland is rough.

What I would like to see is a blight tax on boarded up buildings and residents. Maybe $100 per month for homes, and more for businesses. Most boarded up properties are owned by absentee owners just sitting on property hoping to make a quick buck when the neighborhood makes a comeback. The boarded up buildings devastate the surrounding neighborhoods, bringing down nearby properties with it. If you can't keep your property in good condition, you need to give it up.