Tupelo mayor outlines strategies to fight blight

Tupelo, Miss., Mayor Jason Shelton is outlining his administration's goals and methods as it ramps up a fresh focus on blight removal across the city's residential areas.

Shelton's re-election campaign focused heavily on efforts to bolster the stability of deteriorating older neighborhoods and to remove the dilapidated properties that drive a decline in property values.

"Doing nothing is not an option," Shelton told the Daily Journal Tuesday, reiterating an oft-repeated refrain from the recent campaign season. "I really envision a shotgun approach to the issue. That includes blight elimination, public/private partnerships and tax incentives."

During a Tuesday afternoon work session of the Tupelo City Council, Shelton and the city's Development Services Director Shane Hooper described to the council how the administration targets properties for demolition or purchase at public expense.

In recent years, the City Council has agreed to buy various properties in Mill Village, Sharon Hills and on Ida, Park and Leake streets.

Some council members have expressed concern over the prospect of purchasing properties without a clear plan of what the city will do with those properties once any blighted structures have been removed.

On Tuesday, however, the mayor asked for a bit of leeway to pursue a targeted blight elimination strategy that emphasizes cutting off decay before it swallows up whole streets.

Shelton told the Daily Journal that in some cases, his administration may seek to buy a property primarily to create a buffer between dilapidated and more well maintained areas or to prevent further deterioration of property values on a given street.

The mayor also requested leniency to pursue a rapid acquisition strategy once properties are targeted for purchase, so as to avoid price hikes from opportunistic property owners, particularly when multiple properties in a given area are targeted.

"What we want is a little latitude to get a couple steps down the road and then bring it to the council," Shelton said.

He noted that in West Jackson Street, where the city of Tupelo has invested significant amounts of public money, property owners began doubling and even tripling asking prices once the city's intent became clear.

Administration officials made clear, however, they do not seek to simply acquire property. Hooper described a transfer into city ownership as a last resort.

"We don't want to be buying up properties to be banking properties," Hooper said, emphasizing his own confidence in public/private partnerships.

Hooper also indicated confidence that, when necessary, a minimal amount of public investment in an area can pay back significant dividends.

"A lot of times, if the city will take the first step, private investment will follow after," Hooper said.

He pointed to a Mill Village as a successful example of this strategy.

Shelton and Hooper both noted that efforts will continue to refine and develop its strategies to fight blight and support home values.

"We really just want to make sure we have council support," Shelton said.

Tribune Content Agency
Distressed REO Mississippi
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