Mobile Passes Blight Ordinance

 Mobile recently adopted an ordinance that creates its first registry for empty buildings, AL.com reported. For commercial structures in the Henry Aaron Loop defined by a boundary that includes properties south and west of Beauregard Street and areas marked by Broad, Canal and Water streets, the ordinance is hoped to pressure longtime property holders to revive empty storefronts that have lingered downtown for years. The new registry, used in approximately 500 cities nationwide, requires owners of vacant structures to register their properties with a city code official within 30 days of becoming empty unless the building qualifies for an exemption. Exemptions include public buildings, properties actively marketed within the past six months, buildings under construction or renovation, structures vacated because of fire or storm damage and mixed-use buildings at least 20% occupied. Each owner of a vacant structure will pay a fee based on the building’s size and the number of years it has remained empty.