This is the second post in an ongoing series dealing with problem buildings. Please also read our initial post. Here we deal with finding information useful to contacting property owners and, when necessary, pressuring them to correct problems.
1. Enter the address of your problem building into the CityNews search or County Assessor’s search to find its Property Index Number (PIN). (Note: Large buildings may have a different address number than what is posted on the building itself. Corner buildings might even use a different street. It may be necessary to search multiple addresses to find the correct PIN)
2. Enter the property’s PIN into the Treasurer’s search to find the owner’s tax information. Here you can find where the tax bill is mailed, how much the owner pays in property taxes, and if the property taxes have been paid to-date.
3. Enter the property’s PIN into the Recorder of Deed’s search to confirm the owner’s information. Here you can find other useful information, such as the mortgaging bank, as well as liens against the property, housing court cases against the property, and foreclosure proceedings brought by the mortgaging bank.
4. Enter the owner’s information into the White Pages name or reverse address search to find a phone number for the owner.
5. Use this information to contact the owner, by phone or mail, and seek remedies. Do the same with the mortgaging bank as well, if necessary. Ask your neighbor to do so too, and their neighbor, and their neighbor, and so on, until you come to the desired resolution.
Below is the process we use to deal with troubled buildings in the area. It is not foolproof and should be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, but if there is a problem building on your street, this is the starting point.
Action Uptown 