A Proposal Backed By Mayor Brandon Scott Approved To Sell Over 200 Vacant Baltimore Properties For $1 Each To Local Residents
A new housing proposal in Baltimore, MD, is modeled after the city’s property program from a few decades ago.
In the 1970s, Baltimore had a “dollar house” program, in which residents got to own vacant properties for $1 each under the requirement of fixing them, according to Bloomberg. Now, the idea to revitalize has surfaced again.
The Baltimore Sun reports that Major Brandon Scott supported the proposal to offer over 200 vacant properties in Baltimore to people who will repair and live in them. The Baltimore Board of Estimates approved the program on March 20. The program was designed mainly for individual buyers and community land trusts. However, for $3,000, developers and large non-profits can also purchase unoccupied houses (small non-profits would pay $1,000).
This proposal is an opportunity to combat an ongoing issue in Baltimore. The Baltimore Sun mentions that unoccupied homes are a big problem throughout the city, numbering more than 13,000. This new program will only cover some vacant homes, as not all are city-owned. Guidelines have also put focus on the more “stressed” housing markets, such as East and West Baltimore.
While it may be welcomed by a good number of residents and housing advocates,