Blighted properties are those seen as a disruption to the surrounding area, according to the Center for Community Progress.
Nope. Blighted properties are seen as a way to develop special taxing districts that are passed out like favors to the friends of local politicians. New development replaces the blighted ones but the tax rate is much lower than it would usually be for the type of occupancy. There are often conditions such as a certain percentage of local employment for workers and set aside for so called affordable units.
There is a code called the “Unsafe building and abatement code” (The name may have changed) but there are definite steps that have to take place before an unsafe building is either torn down or brought to code. Throughout the process an owner has legal rights and avenues of appeal.
Someone got very greedy and figured the owner would not have the means to fight them.
When I was a kid (50's and 60's) my Grandmother had a four story apartment building in the Mt. Adams area of Cincinnati. It had a amazingly wonderful view overlooking the downtown area. Her building was old, but solid and in good condition.
There were many such buildings just like hers on Baum, Oregon and other streets on Mt Adams. The city came in and started finding all sorts of reasons to condemn the old buildings, and then the developers moved in..
I have no idea how much one of those new apartments on Mt Adams would cost nowadays. Probably two grand a month, or more.
I don't think you could pay to live in that town again. :(