The city finds and declares that:
(A) Abandoned properties, particularly those located within community areas or in close proximity to occupied residences and businesses, create a wide range of problems for the communities in which they are located, creating public health problems, fostering criminal activity and otherwise diminishing the quality of life for residents and business operators in those areas;
(B) Abandoned properties diminish the property values of neighboring properties and have a negative effect on the quality of life of adjacent property owners, increasing the risk of property damage through arson and vandalism and discouraging neighborhood stability and revitalization;
(C) For these reasons, abandoned properties are presumptively considered nuisances, in view of their negative effects on nearby properties and the residents or users of those properties;
(D) The continued presence of abandoned properties in the city acts as a significant barrier to community revitalization and to the regeneration of the city's business centers;
(E) It is the responsibility of a property owner to maintain his or her property in sound condition and prevent it from becoming a nuisance to others. The failure by an owner to comply with legitimate orders to demolish, stabilize or otherwise repair his or her property creates a presumption that the owner has abandoned the property; and
(F) Many abandoned buildings still have potential value for residential and other uses and, wherever feasible, the buildings should be preserved rather than demolished; particularly buildings that have historic or architectural value, or contribute to maintaining the character of neighborhoods or streetscapes.
(Ord. 991-09, passed 1-26-2009)