The Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic (“Land Use Clinic”) at West Virginia University College of Law, along with Downstream Strategies, an environmental consulting firm, will be researching and drafting a Blight Action Plan for the City of Cumberland. Beginning this weekend (12/2/17) and continuing over the next several weekends, surveyors will canvas the city to identify abandoned and dilapidated buildings.
The final report will identify areas with concentrations of blighted properties and recommend action steps and processes to streamline the city’s enforcement policies and procedures. The city has obtained grant funds to support this project with the goal of creating a comprehensive approach to reporting, identifying, and prioritizing neglected properties throughout Cumberland’s neighborhoods.
“We are very excited to be working with Cumberland”, said Katherine Garvey, Director of the Land Use Clinic. “We have worked extensively on this issue in West Virginia and will use that experience in advising the city. In addition, we hope to learn from what Maryland is doing and take that knowledge back to West Virginia. This experience will benefit both states, along with Cumberland.”
For more information, please contact the City of Cumberland’s Community Development Department at 301-759-6431 or 301-759-6455.