Rockford to convert vacant and abandoned homes to 'landbanks'

Vacant and abandoned homes can cause a number of concerns for communities from creating fire hazards to draining tax dollars. That's why some cities choose to revamp these properties as 'landbanks.' Now, the Forest City is giving it a try.

[@vengefulones6435]

The answer is a bulldozer for all of haight village.

[@barbarawadley4343]

The old houses are a lot better than today's salt box houses.

[@WashingtonTuna]

The state of Illinois word on a guarantee or loan is worthless. More taxpayers money down the hole. Worst financially run state in the Union. Set up a recycle process and tear them all down.

[@fyisense9312]

Yeah, they are going about It backwards. Saving the houses may be three times more costly than building a new house that someone would want. Of course there are individual assessments for each property as to it's value. I understand the Planning department wants "to preserve the character" of the area. We have the technology to build houses that look like they were built in 1915 but with modern materials like wiring, plumbing, HVAC and insulation. There has to be some hidden agenda. There was a group in Palm Springs that hired students to help build houses as a class. They got paid and were able to assess a trade, get credits and a house got built. The point is selling to the high bidder will prolong the existing problem.

[@WashingtonTuna]

@@fyisense9312 All good points. I didnt go into utilizing the local labor to help or maybe even some students. Being a small business owner with employees the local, state and feds all digging in your pocket make it impossible to hire people. Even student interns would be classified as employees. All state unemployment, Labor & Industries tax and employee PTO are expenses. Federal SS tax 7.65% employer required plus FLMA. The taxes are like having an employee who costs the most but does the least.
No construction companies would be willing to bankroll the states plan. They would not do the work with the hope of getting paid several months down the road. Couple all that with the very low profit if any that will generate. It is easier to let them sit and rot.

[@fyisense9312]

@@WashingtonTuna Dude, and I mean that with the most respect. Better to have a grass lot.

[@fyisense9312]

@@WashingtonTuna I think there was Federal and State funding. When they offered me a teaching job, I had to join the union. I didn't take the job it was cheap but with all the benefits. They may have also funded it through the final sale. I'm with you on the employee overhead, our break on workers comp 20 years ago was at $21.50/hr, anything below that was a big loser, so no interns/dings, on a real construction job.

[@barbarawadley4343]

Really? A mask?😂

[@none5185]

WHO WOULD HIRE THIS 12 YEAR OLD TO GIVE THE NEWS?