In 1995, The City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, concerned with the increasing number of vacant, abandoned or substandard properties declared war on the owners of abandoned or vacant properties. Since that declaration, and under the leadership of Mayor James E. Doyle, more than 250 abandoned or vacant properties within the 8.9 square miles that makeup Pawtucket have been removed from the City's abandoned/vacant property list. These properties were primarily concentrated in one area of town named Woodlawn.

In 1994, the length of time it took for code enforcement officials to force property owners to bring abandoned and vacant housing up to code was more than one or two years. After public hearings, Pawtucket launched a new initiative to tackle the abandoned housing problem —-"one house at a time."

The City's existing municipal housing court was very weak and could only fine property owners for violating, housing codes. However, since these fines were often less than the cost of correcting code violations. Property owners would simply pay the fine rather than correct the problems.

As a response, Pawtucket successfully lobbied the Rhode Island General Assembly to expand the power of its Local Housing Court. Now, the housing court judge has the ability to find an individual property owner in contempt of court for failing to comply with a specific judicial order. This added authority has greatly speeded up the enforcement process. The City of Pawtucket was the first in Rhode Island to have the new provisions. With passage of the 1995 law, all appeals had to be made directly to the State Supreme Court rather than Superior Court, drastically shortening the judicial process. A coordinated, interagency strategy was developed through the Mayor Doyle's Office along with seven other City Departments. The strategy was to coordinate the process, keep and update accurate information on dilapidated properties and to conduct field inspections. Abandoned properties listed on monthly status reports could be fast tracked, resulting in notice of violations and prosecution time being slashed in half. Finally, city staff reviewed legal notices in newspapers to identify upcoming foreclosure sales.

The single most important achievement of this program was the increased self-esteem of homeowners and improved quality of life in these residential neighborhoods, resulting in the reeducation of abandoned or vacant properties by almost 90 percent.

Meanwhile, the presence of abandoned house owned by absentee landlords had devalued property and adversely impacted the local business economy, making it increasingly difficult to recruit new businesses to the areas surrounded by the abandoned and vacant homes. As the neighborhood conditions improved, the housing values have increased and new businesses have moved into the neighborhood. Since the establishment of the Municipal Court in July 1995, there have been more than 250 properties classified as vacant and abandoned. At present, only 31 properties remain on this list.

Pawtucket's efforts enhanced the quality of life throughout the City, specifically in the Woodlawn neighborhood. At one time the number of properties in this distressed area reached 103, this number being disportionately higher than other areas of the City. Today, only 12 properties remain in this neighborhood. As a result, this area has experienced a dramatic turnaround and a better quality of life now exists in t his neighborhood.

The City's abandoned housing attention in the Woodlawn neighborhood also helped from the basis for a successful three year HUD Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) grant with the University of Rhode Island. The Woodlawn COPC program was partnered with the neighborhood, City government, and the University, in an array of efforts to improve the living conditions in the neighborhood. Pawtucket's initiative produces affordable housing units for low-moderate income residents. Beneficiaries include the nine low-income first time home buyers, who purchased rehabilitated properties though the Blakstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) and Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation (PCDC), both private nonprofit groups dedicated to providing safe, decent and affordable housing to City residents.

In July 1997, PCDC in partnership with the City and Ser-Job for Progress initiated a vocational training program called "Pawtucket Youth Building." This program provided both academic skills and carpentry for disadvantage high school students, ages 17 to 22. Field projects for instruction included work on 18 Benefit Street, an abandoned property acquired by PCDC. Of the 12 young men and women that began the Youth Builders program at its inception, four students went on to attain permanent employment.

Replicating Pawtucket's Initiative

The issue of abandoned housing is a typical problem for many older urban communities, especially in the northeast. Any depressed urban area can easily replicate Pawtucket's innovation. For more information, call Michael Cassidy, Pawtucket Department of Planning and Redevelopment. (401) 724-5200.