The
American Chronicle (11/30, Ferrar) reports, "Neighborhood advocates and Knoxville City Council members agree that vacant, abandoned and blighted properties bring down a neighborhood and can be a catalyst for crime, especially drugs and prostitution." Charlotte Davis, treasurer of Fountain City Town Hall stated blighted properties are "a drawing card for vagrants. In most cases you have to call (Knoxville Neighborhood Codes Enforcement) to get the yard cut." Some of the recommendations to curb blight include "adding more codes inspectors, conducting more 'codes sweeps' of neighborhoods in which the entire codes staff is involved, developing a land bank to help redevelop properties facing tax foreclosure and establishing a landlord registry so officials can reach an owner or designated representative if there's a problem with rental property." Polly Doka, a member of the Council of Involved Neighborhoods, argued "the city needs a vacant property ordinance in case a property has codes violations" as well as landlord registration.
