Arlington's new vacant storefront bylaw
Arlington's new vacant storefront bylaw
Goals: The goal of the bylaw is to reduce the number of long-term commercial vacancies in Arlington and to activate storefronts during a period of vacancy by creating an incentive for property owners to display artworks in unused commercial windows. Thus far, the 17 vacancies identified in Arlington Center in June of 2015 has been reduced to 5 as of September 2017.
Strategy: In order to incentivize commercial property owners to fill their vacant storefronts, the Town undertook a regulatory approach.
Results: Since the bylaw was passed in 2016, commercial vacancies have plummeted to 1.2% town-wide as of May 2017.
Vacant property registration: $400 annual fee per storefront
Violations: $100 per day fine
What differentiates Arlington’s bylaw from similar vacant property bylaws and ordinances in Massachusetts is its focus on commercial properties and economic vitality. Additionally, the bylaw allows the Planning and Community Development Department and Inspectional Services to waive the annual registration fee for property owners who can either demonstrate financial hardship or choose to display public art in their vacant storefront. The town created a model process for allowing public art in vacant properties. Arlington Public Art, a committee with experience in curating storefront exhibitions, can refer artists to property owners who will allow art exhibitions in their vacant storefronts in lieu of paying the registration fee. The bylaw requires property owners to state their efforts to fill the vacancy and to maintain a code-compliant property. An annual registration fee of $400 is required. Property owners who do not meet the bylaw’s requirements face a fine of $100 per day.
Download the By Law >
Goals: The goal of the bylaw is to reduce the number of long-term commercial vacancies in Arlington and to activate storefronts during a period of vacancy by creating an incentive for property owners to display artworks in unused commercial windows. Thus far, the 17 vacancies identified in Arlington Center in June of 2015 has been reduced to 5 as of September 2017.
Strategy: In order to incentivize commercial property owners to fill their vacant storefronts, the Town undertook a regulatory approach.
Results: Since the bylaw was passed in 2016, commercial vacancies have plummeted to 1.2% town-wide as of May 2017.
Vacant property registration: $400 annual fee per storefront
Violations: $100 per day fine
What differentiates Arlington’s bylaw from similar vacant property bylaws and ordinances in Massachusetts is its focus on commercial properties and economic vitality. Additionally, the bylaw allows the Planning and Community Development Department and Inspectional Services to waive the annual registration fee for property owners who can either demonstrate financial hardship or choose to display public art in their vacant storefront. The town created a model process for allowing public art in vacant properties. Arlington Public Art, a committee with experience in curating storefront exhibitions, can refer artists to property owners who will allow art exhibitions in their vacant storefronts in lieu of paying the registration fee. The bylaw requires property owners to state their efforts to fill the vacancy and to maintain a code-compliant property. An annual registration fee of $400 is required. Property owners who do not meet the bylaw’s requirements face a fine of $100 per day.
Download the By Law >
