Title
Amending Title 16 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Property," by amending Chapter 16-400, entitled "Vacant and Surplus Properties," Chapter 16-500, entitled "Councilmanic District Development Program," and Chapter 16-700, entitled "Philadelphia Land Bank," in order to establish uniform procedures for the disposition of property by the City and City-related agencies to whom the City conveys property, and to amend the provisions governing the Land Bank, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Sections 16-401 and 16-402 of The Philadelphia Code, and the header of Chapter 16-400 of the Code, are hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 16-400. [VACANT AND] SURPLUS PROPERTIES.
? 16-401. Legislative Findings.
The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby finds that:
(1) Throughout the City of Philadelphia a large number of properties are vacant and have been vacant for an abnormal amount of time;
(2) The vacant properties are in such poor physical condition as to make them uninhabitable in the present conditions;
(3) Certain properties have been declared by City to be unfit for human habitation since they are in violation of building, fire, health and other City Codes;
(4) The owners of certain vacant or unoccupied properties are delinquent in the payment of Real Estate Taxes, Water and Sewer Rents, or other municipal liens and charges;
(5) The properties in their present conditions are and have become a blighting influence in and about the neighborhood where located and thus are a liability to the City and its citizenry;
(6) Nonpayment of the tax obligations by the owners of these properties indicates that they may have or intend to abandon such properties;
(7) Certain property owners desire to donate properties to the City as an alternative to abandoning them;
(8) It would be in the best interest of the owners of such properties an...
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