Vacant property blight-reduction ordinance
Summary
Councilman Foote slammed the Jackson Redevelopment Authority for sitting on roughly 90 tax-exempt downtown properties instead of selling them to investors. The city pays JRA $600,000 a year, and council wants answers — JRA will appear at the second April meeting.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 20, 2026.
Impact analysis
City pays JRA $600,000 a year; property sales could boost property tax revenue.
Downtown investors and the city's property tax base if properties are sold.
Property owners would face higher fees and new bond requirements.
Mentions & discussions (5)
City Council - Oct 20, 2026
A new ordinance would force owners of vacant buildings to board them with see-through polycarbonate instead of plywood, so neighbors and police can spot squatters and fires. It's modeled on Detroit's effort, costs the city nothing, and could be amended before a November 3 vote.
Planning & Economic Development - Aug 6, 2026
Staff are tightening the vacant property registry with higher fees, squatter-removal affidavits and owner bonds, plus a color-coded map ranking apartment complexes by risk. Members also questioned whether large apartment complexes still make sense for Jackson.
Finance - Mar 25, 2026
Councilman Foote slammed the Jackson Redevelopment Authority for sitting on roughly 90 tax-exempt downtown properties instead of selling them to investors. The city pays JRA $600,000 a year, and council wants answers — JRA will appear at the second April meeting.
Planning & Economic Development - Mar 4, 2026
An updated inventory of abandoned properties would give the city a clearer picture of where derelict buildings are and where to focus demolition and enforcement efforts.
Planning & Economic Development - Feb 5, 2026
Vacant commercial buildings like the former Virginia College site and the Shell station on Highway 80 drag down corridors and invite crime. The city has no early-warning system for businesses that are about to fail and leave town, and no comprehensive list of businesses operating in Jackson.
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