Alpine council weighs a pilot vacant‑building ordinance to spur downtown economic activity

The Alpine City Council spent an extended portion of its Jan. 1 meeting discussing a proposed vacant‑building program framed as an economic development tool rather than enforcement-focused abatement.

Kirsten (representing Alpine Community Projects) told the council that vacant‑building ordinances are a growing municipal practice, though she found limited hard outcome data on effectiveness. She recommended a pilot approach: narrow the geographic scope (proposed between 2nd and 7th streets), require commercial building registration and liability insurance, use a light exterior "standard of care" inspection drawn from the International Property Maintenance Code, and use a tracking spreadsheet from the Main Street program to minimize staff burden.

"I think that would be really valuable, especially if it's gonna be a program going forward to really have some genuine money attached to it," Kirsten said, adding her group would help draft the ordinance and supply administrative tools.

Councilmembers discussed carrots (incentives, grant assistance, targeted marketing) and sticks (registration fees and insurance requirements), staffing implications, and the need to better understand why storefronts stay vacant. Several suggested first-hand outreach to building owners and offered to each take a subset of properties for contact. Councilmembers noted an estimated 13 16 vacant storefronts in the proposed pilot area and asked Kirsten to provide spreadsheets, sample letters and examples from other towns.

Council and staff agreed to return with a list of storefronts and draft materials; Kirsten said she would email the council her examples and the Main Street tracking spreadsheet and the council tentatively scheduled follow-up for March. The city manager and council discussed whether to pursue a county partnership to hire a shared economic development officer.

No ordinance was adopted; the council directed staff to continue research, engage Alpine Community Projects and report back with data and proposed next steps.