As discussed in the following article in the SouthtownStar, Park Forest's new VPR ordinance includes provisions pertaining to;

• Real estate transfer tax stamps which are needed to sell the property,
• Property insurance and;
• A maintenance plan listing a time schedule for occupancy.

Park Forest OKs vacant house registry

Park Forest last night approved an ordinance requiring owners of vacant homes to register their properties with the village.

Property owners who fail to register their homes will not be issued a village real estate transfer tax stamp needed to sell the property.

Alsip, Oak Forest and Chicago have adopted similar ordinances.

Park Forest officials said title searches will be done on all abandoned properties and their owners will be made aware of the village's requirements. The village counts 235 empty houses, or about 4 percent of the housing stock.

Under the proposal, registered owners would be required to maintain their properties and pay an annual $200 registration fee to the village to pay for home inspections.

Those who do not comply with the law risk paying a maximum fine of $750 per day. Unpaid fees will result in a lien against their property.

Additionally, all owners of vacant houses will be required to pay for property insurance as well as submit a maintenance plan. Submitted plans will list a time schedule for occupancy.

The program is expected to be up and running by January.

To view the online article, please click here.

About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with over 700 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico