Private Property Rights: 1st City in US Addresses Blight By Treating the Source.

What city is addressing blight by “treating the source?” Memphis

How much blight is in Memphis? 16% of housing stock is vacant

What are the 3 goals of the Memphis Neighborhood Blight Elimination Charter? 

  • economic development
  • quality of life
  • coordination among exisiting local governmental agencies that tackle blight

What entities are involved with the Memphis Nighborhood Blight Elimination Center?

  • nine government agencies
  • nonprofits
  • private businesses

What were tangential legislative changes that dovetail into the Charter?

  • Shortening the time that delinquent taxpayers have to redeem their properties — from one year to 30 days 
  • Memphis City Council created a land bank that razes, cleans up, and will buy blighted properties

Memphis Neighborhood Blight Eliminiation Charter

Governing | It Takes a Village: The Idea Behind Memphis’ Anti-Blight Strategy