21-17.

(A) IN THIS SECTION, "ABANDONED PROPERTY" MEANS:

(1) AN UNOCCUPIED STRUCTURE OR VACANT LOT ON WHICH NO TAXES
OR ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR MORE THAN ARE IN ARREARS FOR AT LEAST
2 YEARS;

(2) A BUILDING:

(I) THAT IS UNOCCUPIED BY OWNER OR TENANT;

(II) THAT IS UNFIT FOR HABITATION;

(III) THAT HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE:

1. THE BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND; OR

2. THE COST OF REHABILITATION SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDS
THE POSTREHABILITATION MARKET VALUE; AND

(IV) REGARDING WHICH THE OWNER HAS BEEN ISSUED A
VIOLATION NOTICE FROM THE CITY REQUIRING THE OWNER TO:

1. REHABILITATE THE BUILDING TO CONFORM TO MINIMUM
CODE HABIT ABILITY REQUIREMENTS; OR

2. DEMOLISH THE BUILDING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY

REASONS;

(3) A VACANT LOT ON WHICH BUILDINGS HAVE A BUILDING HAS BEEN
DEMOLISHED; OR

(4) ANY BUILDING IN A BLOCK OF ROW HOUSES WHERE THE BLOCK:

(I) AS A WHOLE CONTAINS 70% ABANDONED PROPERTY AS
DEFINED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), (2), OR (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION; AND

(II) IS DETERMINED BY THE CITY TO REQUIRE A WHOLE-BLOCK
REMEDY, PROVIDED THAT ANY TENANT OR OWNER-OCCUPANT HAS BEEN OFFERED
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE UNDER AVAILABLE PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (K) OF THIS SECTION.

(B) THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE MAY FILE A PETITION IN
THE DISTRICT COURT, FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF ALLEVIATING NUISANCE AND
BLIGHT, THAT SEEKS:

(1) THE CONDEMNATION OF ABANDONED PROPERTY; AND

(2) THE IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF, OR THE IMMEDIATE POSSESSION
OF AND TITLE TO, THE ABANDONED PROPERTY.

(C) WHEN THE CITY FILES A PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION, IF THE FAIR
MARKET VALUE OF THE ABANDONED PROPERTY, AS SUBSTANTIATED BY AFFIDAVIT
FROM A LICENSED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER, EXCEEDS THE SUM OF THE PUBLIC