Windsor councillors want vacant building registry to combat urban blight

Some Windsor city councillorsare once again pushing for a vacant building registry in the ongoing battle withurban blight.

The issue of rundown and unsightly properties resurfaced this week with residents lobbying politicians because of regular drug use and vandalism at the city's old social services building near the downtown.

• Vandals, addicts overrun Windsor's old social services building

Frustrated with the illegal activity at the Louis Avenue building that has sat empty since 2005, residents are petitioning the city to take action.

City staff are working on a report that will outline the potential impact of a vacant building registry, which some councillorssay will go a long way to force owners to maintain their properties.

"The vacant building registry is a good policy decision we need to make to move forward with combating theissue of empty homes and empty lots," saidCoun. Rino Bortolin.

Other regions, including Hamilton, have adopted similar registries that force property owners to pay an annual fee, which helps coverthe cost of annual inspections. The move would let the city keep tabs on any issues that emerge, Bortolinexplained.

He says problems at the old social services building are just some of many issues with similar properties stretching from the west end to Ford city in the east end.

"Those types of buildings bring down a neighbourhood quite a bit," he said.

Mayor Drew Dilkenssays the city must use caution when considering a registry because some property owners may be more inclined to tear buildings down, rather than pay an annual fee.

The city would then collect less money in taxes on an empty lot.

"It doesn't always have the intended impact," he said. "We don't want to implement something that's going to be more of a burden on property owners. We want to make it easy to do business here, easy to buy property. At the same time, we're hoping to encourage responsible property ownership."

Mary Jane Renaud, who is lobbying the city about the old social services building, says the city needs to do something to stop owners from letting buildings rot.

She's watched as drug addicts and vandals have taken over the Louis Avenue property.

"I think if they keep a closer eye on it, we wouldn't have anything happening here like that," she said.