Cincinnati City Council holding banks responsible for upkeep of vacant foreclosures

CINCINNATI - Two Cincinnati City Council members say they want to hold the banks accountable for the vacant foreclosure properties.

Council members P.G. Sittenfeld and Cecil Thomas say that vacant foreclosed homes aren't just eyesores, they're also a breeding ground for crime throughout Cincinnati.

The two will announce new foreclosure legislation Wednesday morning.

The legislation states banks would be responsible for the upkeep of vacant homes, which would include cutting the grass, fixing broken windows, making sure the property is secure and locked, and even removing snow and ice from the sidewalks.

"Banks and lenders must maintain the properties they own, just like the rest of us," said Sittenfeld.

The legislation also says the vacant foreclosed properties are becoming a physical and financial hazard to our neighborhoods, and proposed policies include a registry of vacant foreclosed properties and liability for costs incurred by the city for caring for these vacant properties.

"Individuals and institutions alike must each take responsibility for making Cincinnati a place we'll be happy and proud to call home," said Sittenfeld.

The foreclosure legislation has been signed by a super majority of council, which includes the communities of Westwood, Price Hill, College Hill, Mt. Airy, and Madisonville.

The official announcement of the foreclosure pilot program will be on Wednesday at 10 a.m. outside of a vacant, foreclosed home on Ambrose Avenue in the College Hill neighborhood. College Hill alone has seen 188 building code enforcement cases in the last five years.

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