Slumlord Redemption Program Cities should creare a slumlord redemption program to rehabilitate slumlords, and motivate them beyond money to care for their inhabitants and their neighborhoods. Tax incentives could be given for changed behavior, and taxes could be increase based on the likely worth of a building up to code, compensating as well for cost of heat, etc. A cost calculator would inform the city of the average cost to heat and cool a building effectively, and landlords would be charged regardless of whether they provide these services. The city could also reclaim buildings out of code for five years and return usable, safe space to local entrepreneurs and citizens to encourage pride of ownership.
This is part 37 of a continuing brainstorm on the future of cities, inaugurated at the CEOs for CitiesVelocity conference in September, 2009. We’ll post a new idea each day until we run out, at which point we’re counting on you to come up with something smart. Do you have a good idea for improving your city? Add it in the comments below, or tweet it to @GOOD with hashtag #cityideas—we’ll publish the best ones. Tomorrow's idea: Preservation ReFARM.
Share on Facebook
