Vacant homes for $1? Baltimore City leaders approve plan with some conditions

BALTIMORE - Baltimore City Council approved a measure Wednesday that would allow some vacant properties in Baltimore City to be sold for just $1.

The vote was held during Wednesday's Board of Estimates meeting after being delayed due to disagreement across the city council.

Mayor Brandon Scott, who advocated for the proposal, said the buyers must have at least $90,000 to rehab the buildings. However, some worry there needed to be more safeguards.

The program comes with the promise of the new owner to renovate, move in within a year, and stay in the residence for five years.

As of now, there are more than 13,000 vacant homes in Baltimore, and nearly 900 are city-owned.

"This is an important expansion of our efforts to get vacant properties out of their vacant status and into the hands of the people who want to rehab them and live in them," Scott said.