В Берлингтоне опубликован список проблемных пустующих зданий для повышения прозрачности

Problem Properties: Burlington publishes list of noncompliant vacant buildings BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Problem properties are back in the spotlight in Burlington, where the city has created an online list tracking its blighted buildings and the owners responsible for them, saying vacant properties can be an eyesore, a safety hazard and a drain on city resources. In response to complaints from residents, the city is shining a light on problem properties, making a list of the top 10 noncompliant vacant buildings. “This is a way for us to let folks know we are not leaving that property. We’re going to stay with it until it comes into compliance or it comes back into productive use,” said the city’s Bill Ward. The list is not in any particular order. Each entry explains why the property is not in compliance. A common theme is not following the city’s vacant building ordinance, which charges owners fees for their vacant buildings. “The reason a property makes that list is because they either owe the city fees or there are maintenance issues at the building that let us know that things aren’t being cared for properly according to the ordinance,” Ward explained. He says it’s all based on transparency and accountability. He says this is just phase one of the project and that they expect to add more and hopefully take some off as the city continues to address the housing crisis. “Getting them occupied, getting them so that they’re not causing neighborhood problems is a key factor of this.” There’s a wide range of properties on the list, like a former gas station on Pearl Street that’s been vacant since 2019. The city says there are no plans to redevelop it. Staying on Pearl Street, the old Bove’s Restaurant has been vacant since 2019. The city cites multiple violations, including that it’s not safe for emergency personnel to enter the building. Plans to knock it down and redevelop have been put on the back burner. Related Stories: It’s not just commercial buildings. It’s also empty homes, like one on Pine Street. Landlord Chris Khamnei owns two properties on the list. The city says there are overdue fees and there’s extensive damage from a fire on the roof last November. Khamnei says he believes the public list only encourages bad behavior, like break-ins. “It’s not beneficial to me at all, whatsoever,” he said. He says an empty building does him no good either and that he wants help from the city. “You don’t have the income anymore. And then you have all these regulations, and it becomes exponentially difficult to try to get back to where you were.” Ward says there are options to help everyone find solutions for their problem properties. “Our job is to guide them in that direction, but ultimately it’s up to the property owners to decide if they want to do it independently, or if they’re going to seek government assistance or some other federal or state or local program to help them pay for the rehabilitation,” he said. Questions were raised about vacant city-owned buildings like the high-profile Main Street eyesore, Memorial Auditorium. The vacant building ordinance exempts city-owned buildings from fees. Ward says when his department expands the online list, they’ll add Memorial Auditorium to it. The city is working to redevelop the property into residential and community spaces. Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.