Editable-Baltimore's Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste - Flipbook - Page 39
In December of 2019, fires destroyed 17 vacant properties in just one week.35 In order to address
this illegal dumping and public safety issue, Baltimore City must dedicate more resources for
affordable housing and make a major annual commitment to deconstructing vacant properties. This
should include taxing real estate speculators trading in non-owner occupied properties. These
investments will raise equity for Black neighborhoods, increase tax revenues, and strengthen public
safety while contributing cost savings from lowering the maintenance costs associated with vacant
properties.
This Plan calls for major annual investments through a tax on real estate speculation that is projected
to generate $20 million annually, which could produce an estimated 200 renovations and employ
almost 440 people in a single year.
Another $20 million is called for through general obligation bonds to fund the deconstruction of 1,500
vacant houses annually. Deconstruction involves the careful removal and salvaging of key materials
(bricks, plumbing, doors, windows and lumber) before demolition, which are then reused and
repurposed, diverting these materials from landfills.36
Baltimore’s Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste
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