Philly City Council passes bill to secure vacant buildings

Philadelphia City Council might be focusing on the budget, but that doesn’t mean members have their blinders on.

Council took time out yesterday to vote on regular legislation, including a bill from Maria Quinones-Sanchez, D-7th, to require owners of vacant properties to seal their buildings.
PlanPhilly reports the legislation will take effect in 30 days, at which point owners of Large Vacant Commercial or Industrial Properties or Foreclosed Vacant Residential Properties will have to use industrial sealant on buildings’ openings.

The bill has support from community groups in Kensington, and got a lot of attention earlier this spring when two firefighters died in a factory collapse in the neighborhood.