Blight tax goes into effect for City of Savannah (for sale, foreclosure)

[Airforceguy]

Until the property is in compliance, a millage rate seven times higher than usual will be assessed. Right now, WTOC is checking out some of the blighted properties on the list. We'll tell you whether the threat of higher taxes has neighbors feeling optimistic about an end to all the blight in Savannah. That's coming up on The News at 11 p.m.

Blight tax goes into effect for City of Savannah - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

[gentlearts]

Fine and dandy. If the owners didn’t comply before, why will they pay now? How far in arrears will the houses be allowed to get before they are seized....5 years, 10 years? Wake me when it’s over.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

Fine and dandy. If the owners didn’t comply before, why will they pay now? How far in arrears will the houses be allowed to get before they are seized....5 years, 10 years? Wake me when it’s over.

There's your end game right there.

[pink caddy]

"They are sending the tax bills out now" (At the 7 X tax rate for offenders). Oh, whoops, we forgot the Constitution of the U.S requires due deligence. Ok, we'll get to that later when we'll need to spend millions trying to collect in a higher court.

Lol

[pink caddy]

When the city does take over some of these houses, like They have in foreclosure, they take them off the tax roles. So, the 7X rate is really not punitive because that type of owner generally doesn't have the money to avoid foreclosure.

BUT, here's the bad thing. The city puts them up for sale (they have thousands of them) at a price that is very unappealing. Too high, and houses or lots that are not contiguous. Not viable for a builder. So...what happens to those lots? They go to auction and are bought by a new group of "investors" that are NOT going to pay the taxes or rehab. They are trying to sell to the next fool. Round and round we go.

BTW, don't ask me for the solution. Been working on it for years and can't figure it out.

[gastech]

Blighted properties that have been taken by the city should be razed to the soil and transformed into neighborhood vegetable gardens. Win all around....

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by gastech

Blighted properties that have been taken by the city should be razed to the soil and transformed into neighborhood vegetable gardens. Win all around....

And then we'd end up looking like Detroit. No thanks!

As long as there's a strong market for gentrification in Savannah, and these older properties can be restored and saved, we need to figure out a program to get them into the hands of investors who can make that happen more efficiently.

[gastech]

If we insure restoration and preservation I agree. But if we get these properties into the hands of speculative investors who will construct that which would offer them the quickest and largest profits (and that is what most investors do by definition) then we, in the name of gentrification, are treating Savannah like an old ***** by taking the last of her charms in trade for a few beads and a little rouge. Rapid growth, even in the name of gentrification, is the real hidden threat.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by gastech

If we insure restoration and preservation I agree. But if we get these properties into the hands of speculative investors who will construct that which would offer them the quickest and largest profits (and that is what most investors do by definition) then we, in the name of gentrification, are treating Savannah like an old ***** by taking the last of her charms in trade for a few beads and a little rouge. Rapid growth, even in the name of gentrification, is the real hidden threat.

Mmmm... could be. I'll take progress over derelict blight though.

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by gastech

If we insure restoration and preservation I agree. But if we get these properties into the hands of speculative investors who will construct that which would offer them the quickest and largest profits (and that is what most investors do by definition) then we, in the name of gentrification, are treating Savannah like an old ***** by taking the last of her charms in trade for a few beads and a little rouge. Rapid growth, even in the name of gentrification, is the real hidden threat.

I find it hard to believe that what is being taken or sold "is the last of (Savannah's) charms." It would take more than lipstick on a pig (in these cases) for an investor to take advantage of "quick and large profits". Not anymore. That train already left the station. Go on-line and do a search for home for sale in Savannah priced under $50,000. See any charming houses?