Mayor adding funds to increase building inspections
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Land: they aren’t making any more of it.
That odd little axiom, paraphrased from the famous movie and radio star Will Rogers, underscores the importance of development. There is only so much space available, so how it is used matters.
The City of Kokomo intends to improve land usage next year by inspecting and eliminating more blighted properties. The proposed 2025 budget reflects this with increases in funding for the department of Building Inspection Services.
It also wants to repurpose land for economic development. That budget is slated to be adopted this month by the Kokomo Common Council, and Mayor Tyler Moore explained that the city currently owns a significant amount of land and is looking for ways to secure more.
“We added some extra money in a few accounts to hopefully be a little more aggressive on securing some properties for economic development,” said Moore. “In conversation with other mayors, a lot of them talked about having control over historic buildings, brownfields, and such.
“Right now, we've got, I think, between 120-130 lots that the city owns throughout the city.”
Of course, those lots aren’t grouped together, nor are most of them located close to areas currently targeted for large-scale development. They are scattered across the city. Some are vacant. Some have dilapidated structures on them, which can attract squatters and contribute to blight. The mayor hopes to get those properties in shape so a developer might want to repurpose them.
“We're behind the ball,” said Moore. “I think there is a dozen (demolitions) that they're trying to get through. We want to do as many as of them in-house as we can. Some of them are blighted, and unfortunately, folks are working their way in and occupying them. That's where we want to get a little more aggressive.
“By Inspection Services adding to their budget, we're going to try and do as many as we can in-house. We may contract some of those out to help prioritize those with past issues, the number of complaints from surrounding property owners and such, or where they may be in areas with in-fill activity with local builders who may want the parcels.”
That effort extends to properties not owned by the city. There are many that are blighted, unoccupied, and as yet unaddressed. Dozens of burned-out husks sit in neighborhoods, boarded up and reducing the desirability of surrounding homes. The quality of the community’s housing stock suffers as a result.
However, Moore doesn’t particularly want to obtain those properties. He just wants them cleaned up.
“I don't know that we would work with the property owner to acquire them,” said Moore.
However, he is quite interested in promoting in-fill development. He wants builders who look to build individual homes and businesses on blighted and vacant lots in neighborhoods. To that end, the city started an acquisition program earlier this year in which developers could acquire city-owned land for little or no cost. Moore hoped it would result in new construction with structures in character with surrounding homes.
“There's only been a few who have expressed interest and taken advantage of it,” said Moore. “I was just approached by one, asking if the list was still available that we had for our property in-fill program. It was released in March. Developers could select up to three properties at a time.
“We didn't want them to go secure 10 properties and then not follow through. So, there was a small flutter of activity.”
Moore said he recently sat with his administration to gauge the success of the in-fill program. He wanted to hear if there were concerns from developers and builders about the program or if there were ways to revise the program to spur more interest. That evaluation is still taking place.
Moore’s focus on redevelopment continues a trend that stretches back 20 years. Former mayor Matt McKillip was very aggressive in attacking blighted properties. During his term from 2004-2007, he routinely increased funding for inspection services and demolitions. Inspectors became regular attendants at the city’s weekly board of public works and safety meetings.
Former mayor Greg Goodnight was even more aggressive in fighting blight. He contracted out the demolition of dozens of properties and directed city crews to remediate and clean hundreds more. He also started an in-fill program that rehabilitated several properties along West Jefferson Street at city expense.
Given that history, Moore’s efforts to this point have seemed more subdued. It remains to be seen how 2025 shapes his legacy as catalyst for redevelopment.