There is a discussion happening among our City Council that I find disturbing and disappointing.  It is a discussion about lowering the standards of living for our community.  These items will even be included on an upcoming City Council meeting agenda for a vote.  The items under consideration would remove the ordinance preventing parking on grass, allow paint on homes to fade, flake and chip without remediation and relax other quality standards I believe to be essential for our community to maintain pride in itself as well as attract new people to Chickasha.

These standards and ordinances were put in place several years ago in an attempt to increase the standard of living.  Essentially, these ordinances protect our most valuable investment, our homes.  For most all of us, the single most significant financial investment we will ever make is buying a home.  We put an outsized portion of our hard-earned money into buying, maintaining and caring for this home.  It is where we raise our family and make memories.  One of the critical factors in determining a home’s value is the neighborhood.  Neighborhoods that are maintained retain their value.  Neighborhoods that are improved significantly can see property values rise dramatically, making our investments grow.  Neighborhoods that are allowed to decline and deteriorate drop in value.  We understand this and likely considered the quality of the neighborhood when purchasing the home.  These ordinances were introduced to protect the quality of the neighborhoods and encourage their enhancement.  I am very concerned that if the standards are lowered, the decline will be permitted.  When decline is permitted by those around us, no matter how much we maintain, care for and beautify our property, the neighborhood as a whole can be affected, negatively impacting our property value.    Please understand that these regulations are not intended to inhibit freedom or be burdensome, but to protect our community and these critical investments.

Another critical factor that must be considered for Chickasha is that a significant portion of homes are rental properties.  Roughly 60% of the residents of Chickasha own their home, meaning the other 40% rent.  Rental property owners are in business to make money.  Many rental property owners are notorious for maintaining their properties at the minimum standard to maximize profits by limiting expenses.  Not all landlords and rental property owners behave this way, but some do, which requires cities and towns to maintain minimum standards that encourage the desired quality of life for its citizens.  These provisions protect renters.  While renters may not own the property, they are still spending their hard-earned money to live in these homes in exchange for the agreement the owner will maintain it as a nice, comfortable place for their family.  Lowering our standards and expectations for general maintenance lowers the standards for which these rental properties must be maintained.

The median property value in Chickasha is already well below that for Grady County and further below the Statewide number.  Chickasha’s median property value is $82,300 compared to $111,200 within Grady county and $117,900 for the state of Oklahoma.  We must work to increase this number, not take actions that could push it lower.

When I served on City Council, we had many discussions about what to do with dilapidated structures.  These are houses, sheds, and buildings that have deteriorated to the point they are no longer fit for occupancy.  They have deteriorated to the point to no longer be salvageable and better off being knocked down.  The City spends money as available to remove some of these structures plus effort to encourage property owners to demolish these hazardous buildings.  As of just 4 years ago, there were more than 300 of these structures in our town.  The City can only afford to remove a limited number (10-15 per year) with property owners removing a small number as well, but even at this rate, it will be 20-30 years before the current inventory of dilapidated structures is removed.

How did these dilapidated structures come to be dilapidated?  They were neglected and allowed to deteriorate.  The standards under consideration of repeal were introduced to prevent the growth of blight like this.  By lowering the standards of paint and exterior condition, we are actually encouraging structures to get closer and closer to dilapidation before repairs are required.  As we all understand, the worse something becomes, the harder and more costly it is to repair.  I encourage you to drive through the area near downtown from 4^th to 7^th and Chickasha Ave. to Minnesota.  You will see the distinct difference these standards and expectations can make.  In this area, you will see where the City spent money to repair and replace sidewalks.  You will see where homes have been improved with new siding, roofs, driveways, and sidewalks paid for by the property owners.  You will drive past businesses that were not there 5 years ago occupying space that was previously empty.  You will also see some dilapidated structures.  Houses with peeling, chipped paint, roofs caving in and crumbling sidewalks.  Which is the picture of the community you want to live in?  Which is the example of a home you would be proud to live in, where you would like to see your kids grow up or your aging parents spend their retirement years and limited savings?

These conversations are happening now and the votes coming soon.  Please take action!  Reach out to your City Council members.  It takes 5 votes to maintain these important standards, but only 5 votes to repeal them.  Now is the time to act to protect our investments, protect our renters and increase the pride in our community.  Please show it by speaking up as the majority that cares!