A Facebook page I follow called “Revitalize, or die” posted the above oft-repeated assertion. And then posted a rebuttal:
“Fact: Yes you can. The tools are available. Raise your standards. Go after deadbeat owners. Decide that enough is enough.”
I would really like to have a discussion about this matter of vacant property in our community. It’s an issue that is common to all of the historic core areas of our city.
Many cities have enacted vacancy taxes. However, it’s possible that here in Florida, a strong property rights culture, that this would not fly. In our society there is a widespread belief that a property owner owes nothing to the community, as long as they pay the property taxes and cut the grass. The concept of civic duty seems to have worn thin.
But maybe there are some means other than ordinances at our disposal. Perhaps some public social shaming/pressure might not be out of order. And it may be more effective than ordinances.
Another thing that might help would be some kind of program to make it easier for locals to buy a house, so that not so many buildings get snapped up by these big investment companies.
Living next to vacant apartment buildings and vacant houses is so demoralizing, and it’s infuriating all the more because there is such a housing crunch.
Another negative impact of vacancy (be it commercial or residential) is that if there are not enough residents, businesses don’t find it worth their while to set up shop in our neighborhoods. In fact, many businesses close up and pull out.
There is also the additional law-enforcement labor and expense involved to do the extra policing that empty buildings require, because empty buildings are a crime magnet. This takes away resources that would be better used for urgent needs such as stormwater mitigation, parks and recreation, human services. Our police should not have to basically serve as a private security force for property owners who don’t care enough about the community to do anything except use our neighborhoods as their monopoly board.
I used to wonder how people could be so wealthy that they could leave buildings sitting empty and not get any rent. Or leave lots sitting empty for decades and never build anything on them. But, thanks to some features of the tax code, many property owners get a tax writeoff, which makes it all the more frustrating.
Widespread vacancy affects transportation and car-dependence as well. For example, if we have a dense urban core area where most or all buildings are filled, public transportation becomes more viable.
In related news, I now have vacant properties on THREE sides of my house. And, we have completely lost our Walgreens. The pharmacy shut down a few months ago, and the whole store is closed as of today.
Maybe focusing so much on tourism as the supposed savior of our economy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You would think that a drugstore right in the hub of the tourist area would be considered a profitable location, but I guess Walgreens corporate disagrees.
Other businesses in the neighborhood that were supposedly super busy, but got shut down by order of their corporate offices some years ago, were a McDonald’s and a Starbucks.
Sometimes when I hear people walk by, I’ll overhear them say things like “oh this place would be great to set up as a VRBO or Airbnb.” One lady even said she would buy a place and tear it down and pave the front yard. So she could charge for parking. <vomit emoticons> That wouldn’t be allowed by the city, but the point I’m trying to make here is about the distortive influence of a tourist economy.
I always wonder why they’re not saying they wish they could live here. When I moved here I was so happy to be able to just live here. Every day I wake up feeling so grateful. Although, with the businesses closing down it has become a lot harder in some ways. We have lost a bicycle repair shop and several laundromats, among other businesses, and now our drugstore.
Maybe people get so all they can see are dollar signs. Entire streets get used for people’s monopoly board.
Back in 2015, I gave a talk about vacancy at the first annual Elevate, a mini “TED talk” type event in Daytona Beach.
The talk, which I titled “Filling Our Empty Spaces,” is about 6 1/2 minutes long. You can check it out here on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/U0bZRem6a3s?si=3I5ErNPFIu2WONUg
Yes there are many dimensions of this issue for sure. Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!!
Visit the thread on Revitalize, or die to see various people’s comments.
One possible solution mentioned in the thread is called Zero Empty Spaces. Aims to revitalize vacant spaces by providing affordable studio space for artists.