Rockford City Cracks Down on Vacant Properties with New Data Integration
One Community Update
May 8, 2025
Source: Yahoo! News
The City of Rockford announced Thursday it is expanding its efforts to proactively identify vacant properties.
The City said it would be using a data integration and insights platform, called Tolemi, to track vacant and foreclosing properties to flag potentially vacant homes before they become a nuisance to neighbors and drag down property values.
“The standard process for identifying vacant and abandoned properties has always been reactive – waiting for neighbor complaints about a property not being maintained or left vacant. This method often delays intervention, allowing properties to deteriorate further and negatively impact surrounding homes and neighborhoods,” the City said in a release.
Flagged properties will be inspected by the City’s Vacant Properties Team, who will work to locate the owner, assess the property’s condition, and work to resolve code violations to return the property to active use.
As an example, the City said, “[A] property on Arden Ave had been vacant since 2010, with the previous owners leaving all personal belongings behind. Despite years of complaints from neighbors, the owners maintained just enough exterior upkeep and paid property taxes to avoid major code violations. After continued concerns from residents and aldermen, the City enforced its vacant property ordinance. The City contacted the absentee owners, who confirmed they had no intention of returning. An inspection revealed major interior damage from a roof leak and lack of heat. Per ordinance, we requested a remediation plan and timeline. Ultimately, the owners chose to sell to a new buyer, who is now actively rehabbing the home for resale. After more than 15 years of vacancy, the ordinance finally enabled meaningful progress.”
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