The city of Hartford, in a legal tug-of-war with the owner of a downtown building the city deems blighted, says its stepped-up fight against blight in other neighborhoods is bearing fruit.
Mayor Pedro E. Segarra pointed Monday to the city’s Department of Development Services quarterly report as a measure of its increased anti-blight efforts:
1.     394 citations issued.
2.    More than $135,000 in fines issued; approximately $18,000 collected to date.Â
3.    The city has acquired six properties through the use of this ordinance.
4.     The city will conduct a mandated comprehensive survey of all vacant properties this summer.    Â
“Blighted properties directly affect the quality of life and mood of all Hartford’s residents,” Segarra said in a statement. “We are prioritizing our efforts so that these properties can be put back into a useful condition to increase the stabilization and vibrancy of our neighborhoods.”
Segarra had previously announced that an anti-blight attorney will be added to the city corporation counsel’s office.
Meantime, the city is pursuing eminent domain proceedings against the owner of the vacant Capital West office building, 1-7 Myrtle St.
Owner 1 Myrtle St. Associates sued last week to block the action, claiming the building does not fit the city’s legal definition of a blighted property.
