Salinas considering blight ordinance targeting dilapidated buildings
Salinas City Councilmember Steve McShane says he is proposing a new rule that targets commercial and residential property owners who do not maintain their buildings.
The old Dick Bruhn building in downtown Salinas sits barren and lonely ever since the big fire in 2016. And for next door neighbors, it is a sigh that leaves much to be desired.
“It’s a beautiful building, it has the potential to be a gem on this block,” said Gale Higginbotham, the artistic director at Ariel Theatrical.
Now, the city wants to get things moving, not only for the Dick Bruhn building, but other dilapidated buildings across town.
McShane is calling it the blight ordinance. It would give the city substantially more power to compel property owners to maintain their buildings or else face consequences including remediation and even repossessing of the property.
“Should it not be maintained or left to either be a public danger or a public nuisance,” said McShane.
He says he can name half a dozen properties in his district, which encompasses much of south Salinas, that people have consistently complained about.
“And because the ownership is complicated… it may be multiple owners across multiple states or countries, the property is not acted on,” said McShane.
“I’m not aware of any action that’s been taken on the (Dick Bruhn) building since (the fire),” said Higginbotham. “Once they did what they needed to do to secure it, that’s all I know that’s been done.”
And some abandoned buildings could already have back property taxes and numerous liens. Councilmember Scott Davis is also targeting abandoned residential properties. For downtown Salinas, it will mean a fresh new look.
“It would be lovely to see it restored the way it was planned and be alive and vibrant and full of people, bringing people downtown. We would love to see that,” said Higginbotham.
The blight ordinance is something that has been considered before, but now the council will consider this new law in mid-February.
