BREAKOUT SESSION

BEST PRACTICES TO SECURE VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES

Jerry DurhamCommunity Blight Solutions

200 Public Square, Suite 2500Cleveland, Ohio 44134

Jerry.durham@communityblightsolutions.com972.898.3093

VACANT & UNSECURED PROPERTIES

• The U.S. Census estimated the number of abandoned properties to be 19 million at the end of

Q1 2010• Suburban areas are seeing increases due to

foreclosure

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Increased foreclosures Timeline of foreclosures Age of housing stock Speculators/Investors versus owner occupants Decline of population in certain markets

IMPACT OF VACANT & ABANDONED PROPERTIES

PUBLIC SAFETY Arson and accidental fires Burglary or theft Squatting, trespassing Vandalism / Property Mining Drugs Raves

COMMUNITY SERVICES First Responders Law Enforcement

PROPERTY RELATED Decreased Values Decreased Tax base

PUBLIC SAFETY

Austin, Texas study found compared to similar blocks without vacant buildings, blocks with unsecured vacant buildings had;

3.2 TIMES as many drug-related calls

1.8 TIMES as many theft calls

2 TIMES the number of violent calls

A recent Oklahoma City study revealed that police calls on blocks with at least one vacant property are 190% higher

than similar blocks without vacant properties.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Note: This data is part of the Vacant Building Fires Report, National Fire Protection Association, 2009 and U.S Department of Housing and Development 2-14 Winter edition, entitled Vacant and Abandoned Properties: Turning Liabilities Into Assets – Measuring the Impact

The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that there were 28,000 fires annually in vacant residences

between 2006 and 2008, with half of these spreading to the rest of the building and 11

percent spreading to a nearby building. The organization also estimates that 37 percent of

these fires were intentionally set and that 45 deaths, 225 injuries, and $900 million in property damage result from these fires

each year.

PROPERTY RELATED

“Addressing Vacant and Abandoned Buildings in Oklahoma City” Prevalence, Costs + Program Proposal. Final Draft: June 26, 2013. GSBS Richman Consulting

COMMUNITY SERVICES

A 2009 study from Baltimore concluded

that each vacant property on a block

increased annual police and fire

expenditures by $1,472

One study calculated that the city of Philadelphia spends more than $20

million annually to maintain some 40,000 vacant properties, which

cost a conservatively estimated $5 million per year in lost tax revenue

to the city and school district.

Demolition costs can vary widely based on several factors, including whether the home is attached to occupied residences, such as a

Baltimore row house that can cost $40,000 to demolish, or whether it

contains asbestos or lead-based paint. GAO states that demolition typically costs between $4,800

and $7,000 per property

Studies attempting to quantify the effect of foreclosures on surrounding

property values find that foreclosures depressed the sales

prices of nearby homes by as little as 0.9 percent to as much

as 8.7 percent.

Note: This data is for an article in the U.S Department of Housing and Development 2-14 Winter edition, entitled Vacant and Abandoned Properties: Turning Liabilities Into Assets – Measuring the Impact

WHAT IS SECUREVIEW™Nothing secures, lasts longer or does more to stabilize

property values than SecureView™

Patented, state-of-the-art technology designed to look like windows.

Industrial grade sheet material extruded from recycled polycarbonate resins.

Each sheet is .22 inches in thickness and 200 times stronger than glass.

Virtually unbreakable window system that protects properties from intrusion, increases safety and prevents crime associated with vacancy.

SecureView™ can easily be modified onsite to fit any window or opening.

Helps to maintain property values and support neighborhood stabilization.

Cost Analysis for Property Preservation Matrix ChangesSecureView

Clear BoardingPlywood

(With Standard)

Plywood(No Standard)

Description Material Cost Material Cost Material Cost4 x 8 Sheet of Material 1 window @ 76-100 UI

¼ inch Clear

Boarding

$115 ½ inchExterior Grade

$35 ¼ inch Lower Grade

$20

2 Brackets HDPE brackets

included 2 x 4 Brackets

$6 2 x 4 brackets

$6

2 Carriage Bolts $6 N/A N/AInstallation/Labor $20 $20 $20SUBTOTAL $141 $61 $46Average # Installs 1 2 2-3TOTAL COST $141 $122 $92-

$138

FIGHTING BLIGHT: THE COMMUNITY SPEAKS

CITIES USING SECUREVIEW™

Phoenix, AZ Los Angeles, CA Chicago, Il Del City, OK Richmond, CA

SECURING PROPERTIES TO PRESERVE COMMUNITIES

Develop policies with public safety in mind.

Require polycarbonate rather than plywood.

Proactively require securing of at-risk properties before issues arise.

Work with mortgage servicers to maintain the value of the asset and the integrity of the neighborhood. Your goals are the same.

Require that all openings be secured.

Q & A

Jerry Durham200 Public Square, Suite 2500

Cleveland, OH972.898.3093

1.855.SCRVIEW (727-8439)www.secureviewusa.com

Jerry.durham@communityblightsolutions.com