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Huntington City Council Approves Vacant Building Ordinance
By: Associated Press
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HUNTINGON, W.Va. (AP) – An ordinance that would eliminate several vacant buildings in Huntington has been approved by the City Council.
Media outlets report the ordinance will create a vacant building registry. If a building is vacant for 30 days, property owners will have to notify the city and have their building placed on the registry. If that property remains vacant for a year, the owner will be issued fees to cover city services including fire and police protection.
Once that property isn’t vacant, it will be removed from the registry and all additional fees will cease.
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams says similar regulations are in place in Wheeling and Charleston.
Those against this ordinance said that forcing property owners to either sell or rent their properties may increase the likelihood of drug activity in their area.