BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
There's no question that the damage Hurricane Katrina left behind is still evident on the coast.
"It just sits there and it constantly pulls down the value of properties in and around it," Councilman Bill Stallworth said of one hurricane damaged property.
But regardless of the extent of the devastation, the City of Biloxi is ready to move on. In the next two weeks, the city will start contacting the owners of dilapidated properties in an move to get rid of the eyesores.
With a little help from a new law, Senate Bill 3204, that process just may get underway sooner than you think.
"It expands our authority of a code enforcement department to go after buildings that were damaged by Katrina, that basically have been boarded up," Community Development Director Jerry Creel said.
Code enforcement in the past limited the city to just requiring property owners to seal up the buildings, as long as there was no sanitation or safety issues. This new bill, created exclusively for Biloxi, gives the city a little more control.
"It allows us to go after buildings that technically may comply with our city codes, but fall into a category that may be considered a blighted building," Creel said.
Boarded up, unattractive buildings with significant damage and obviously neglected structures all fall into that category. City leaders hope the owners cooperate. But if not, Creel said there are other options.
"It would give the city the authority to go in and either use city employees or hire contractors to make those necessary repairs. And we can add that to the property owner's taxes as a special assessment of up to $75,000, or the appraised value of the property."
A few developers are eyeing Biloxi for future projects.
"I think that this bill will either motivate the owner to repair the building, or sell it to someone who is interested in repairing it. We have a lot of interest in buildings downtown," Creel said.
Right now 40 buildings on the city's list of structures that need improvements.The city council will be presented with six to eight properties at a time.
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