Louisville Holds Abandoned, Vacant Property Summit Wednesday

Louisville will hold a vacant and abandoned property summit Wednesday morning and present outcomes and steps from a similar summit held last year.A report from the Greater Louisville Project last year showed that in some areas of the city, nearly 15 percent of homes are vacant. While the latest census puts that number much lower, it’s clear a majority of abandoned properties are in the West End. Department officials met to address the issue last year, and city officials will revisit some of the problems and solutions that came from that meeting.Some of the issues discussed in the April 2011 summit remain unchanged. Among those issues is funding for the Louisville Metro Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The fund was set up to support developers with affordable housing projects, but funding for the trust has stalled and the board continues searching for a consistent revenue source.Officials from the city’s Department of Codes and Regulations, and Planning and Design are scheduled to speak at the summit, which begins at 9 am at the Memorial Auditorium Ballroom.