The city of Santa Fe now has additional teeth to address so-called "nuisance properties" by foreclosing on those with outstanding municipal liens, thanks to an ordinance approved by the City Council earlier this month.

Sponsored by Mayor Alan Webber and Councilor Jamie Cassutt, the resolution passed Sept. 10 allows the City Attorney's Office to foreclose on properties with outstanding utility liens of more than $10,000 or liens of more than $5,000 if they meet one or more additional criteria.

The criteria include if the property taxes have not been paid for three or more years, if the property appears abandoned or has signs of "chronic lack of maintenance," if utilities have been disconnected for three or more years, if the property's certificate of occupancy has been revoked, if it has

See Full Page