Vacant and abandoned properties in Olympia now subject to registration

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The Olympia City Council approved an ordinance establishing a vacant property registration program, a move that will create a database to identify vacant properties and address squatting on these properties by unhoused people.

At the city council meeting last night, Code Enforcement officer JW Mahone gave a brief overview of the ordinance.

According to Mahone, the city is trying to get in contact with the banks and vested owners to make necessary repairs to return properties to productive use.

"We're trying to defray some of the costs of abatement because we are spending an amount of money for these properties that surround the homelessness and causing some of the problems that we're having in these vacant properties," Mahone said.

In the initial information obtained by the Code Enforcement, Mahone said there are about 1,700 to 1,800 possible properties that could meet the criteria of vacant or abandoned properties. They evaluated those properties based on utility billings – meaning water shut-offs, those with pre-foreclosure status, and code enforcement indicators such as tall grass/weeds and broken windows.

Mahone said the vacant properties have become “attractive nuisances” in the community – squatters and illegal dump sites - without a vacant property program.

He added locating absentee owners is difficult and time-consuming.

But having such a program would make it easy for the cityto obtain direct contact with the bank, lender, or owner. The citycould quickly identify an entity or person responsible for abandoned or vacant properties.

"We have squatters. We deal with that a lot when it comes to these unoccupied properties. Not having owners in the city limits, out of state, or out of the country makes it difficult to execute a trespass order," he said.

According to Mahone, the goal of the ordinance is to share information with –Olympia police and fire departments..

He added that the citywould have quicker response times to address blight, public nuisances, hazards, and illicit activities.

The ordinance seeks to assist the city with locating owners of abandoned/vacant properties, require registration of these properties annually, have a current local representative or contract of the owner, property manager, or agency who has a vested interest in the property and maintain the property per the city's codes, laws, and ordinances.

Mahone said a property would trigger registration if it is:

  • Vacant for 90-180 days
  • Lack of utilities for 90-180 days
  • Pre, mid, or full foreclosure status
  • Bank-owned (real-estate-owned properties)
  • Indicators that the structure has not been occupied – no window covers, tall weeds/grass, junk/debris on the premises
  • A combination of any of the above

Comments

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  • bobkat

    [quote] ".... the city is trying to get in contact with the banks and vested owners to make necessary repairs to return properties to productive use." [unquote]

    Umm-m-m...., presumably these properties (regardless of their current status) are listed on the city's tax rolls(?).

    Ques #1: Where, and to whom, is the city sending the tax bills?

    Ques #2: Who or what entity, is paying the taxes?

    Ques #3: If the taxes are not being paid why isn't the city foreclosing on the properties and seizing them for unpaid taxes?

    What am I missing here?

    Thursday, August 25, 2022 Report this

  • SoulRetreatSPC

    I'd love to connect with City of Olympia and JW Mahone to see how I can assist. I 100% agree that property maintenance is number one deterrent for nuisance activities. As a community, it is our responsibility to ensure our spaces and places are safe for all. If we shall do it this way, then be it. I expect my taxes to pay for these administrative improvements and the property owner to pay for the actual upkeep. There are so many ways to make it right. I love seeing people wanting to make it right! I do.

    Thursday, August 25, 2022 Report this

  • Tractor1

    Too bad the city doesn't put as much effort into dealing with the homeless encampments. But this program will ensure employment to new city workers to develop and maintain the thee program.

    Thursday, August 25, 2022 Report this