New Britain Launches Fight Against Blighted Buildings

Mayor Tim O'Brien said the city's many blighted buildings are creating not just an eyesore, but also a hazard.

Just a short drive from the well-manicured campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, sits an abandoned building that is falling apart.

"It looks scary, it looks like maybe it’s infested with things,” Edwina Lebby, of New Britain, said.

Mayor Tim O'Brien said the city's many blighted buildings are creating not just an eyesore, but also a hazard.

"There are fires that happen at abandoned buildings. There's crime that often takes place around them,” he said.

O’Brien is now spearheading the fight to increase fines against landlords of neglected buildings.

"Thousands of dollars in fines per day that can accumulate if they don't take it seriously,” O’Brien said.

New Britain resident, Edwina Lebby backs the measure and said the blighted buildings tarnish the community.

"Nowadays, landlords don't even care. … It’s not right to live like that," Lebby said.

Some landlords are pushing back. They call the measure unfair and claim they could be made responsible for damage tenants caused.

Mayor O’Brien isn't buying it.

"I think it’s unfair to the people of the city to pay extra taxes because of the problems their properties create," O’Brien said.

If enforcement isn't taken seriously, the mayor next promises city repossession of the problem properties.

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