Northeast NewsDecember 25, 2013

Sometimes declaring an area as blighted is a necessary evil.

In the case of the Indian Mound and Lykins neighborhoods, declaring the two neighborhoods as blighted will result in a revitalization tool for both commercial and residential property owners.

City Council members recently passed the Lykins/Indian Mound Urban Renewal Plan, which declares the neighborhoods as blighted but also includes a Chapter 99 tax abatement which freezes property values for 10 years for property owners wishing to make improvements to their property.

Kudos to City Council member Scott Wagner for finding the city funds to pay for the blight study of the two neighborhoods, which was necessary in order to move the Urban Renewal Plan forward.

We hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity to reinvest in the neighborhood and make the surrounding properties more attractive. Hopefully, it will also attract new residents to the area.