ATLANTIC CITY — Out-of-town property owners have options for dealing with vacant and blighted buildings but are failing to take them, a community development leader told City Council during its Sept. 17 meeting.

Liz Terenik, executive director of the Chelsea Economic Development Corp. and a former city planner, said neglected properties are draining city resources.

At the same time, their owners reject offers to sell and pass the burden on to taxpayers.

“Taxpayers are essentially subsidizing properties by paying for police calls, fire responses and public works cleanups of the trash and blight that results from neglected buildings,” Terenik said during the public portion of the meeting. “The presence of these major eyesores lowers property values, attracts crime and conveys that Atlanti

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