By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A St. Louis alderwoman wants property owners held more accountable for vacant buildings.
Kacie Starr Triplett of the 6th ward introduced a bill Friday that would require owners to register vacant properties and pay up to 500-dollars if they fail to do so.
Triplett would not say whether the proposal was aimed at developer Paul McKee, who has been criticized for neglecting the nearly 500 parcels of land he owns on the north side.
She says it's aimed at all property owners.
"We want to send a message that you're no longer allowed to just let your vacant building to become an eyesore to the community," riplett said. "It brings down property values, and many of these buildings serve as a welcome mat to crime. We're just not going to allow that to continue to happen in our city."
The bill also would require owners to carry $300,000 in liability insurance on residential properties and $1 million on commercial properties.
Triplett says she hopes to get the legislation through the Board of Alderman this fall.