The official definition of blight is described by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a blighted structure when a structure “exhibits objectively determined signs of deterioration sufficient to constitute a threat to human health, safety and public welfare”. Most people define blight as an area of a city, often a large urban city, in which most buildings are abandoned or in severe disrepair. Urban decay (also known as urban rot and urban blight) is the process by which a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude.
The removal of blight is critical to the health, safety and welfare of a community. Blight removal can significantly reduce crime, boost property values and even aid residents’ health.
