LOCAL Trend. 4 years. 75% reduction in vacant buildings. 3 Steps.

In under 4 years, St. Petersburg Florida reduced the number of vacant homes by 75%.

How did St. Petersburg achieve this?  

• Used courts to foreclose properties for unpaid taxes
• Targets proeprties owned by absentee landlords
• Then the city sells the property to:
  • nonprofit affordable housing developers for $4,000 or
  • sells the foreclosed properties at auction

Governing | To Fight Blight, One City Turned to Courts