2/20/2025

ASHLAND - The City of Ashland is looking for more information on what other cities do with a large number of vacant homes in their municipalities. Mayor Matthew MacKenzie said during the Feb. 11 city council meeting there are about 40 vacant homes in the city, some being vacant for years. The Mayor and City Administrator Brant Kucera want a city policy regarding vacant homes, since those empty homes could ease the city’s housing shortage. He cited the example of a vacant home policy in Maine that charges the owner an annual fee as long as the home is vacant. Kucera said by keeping a home vacant, an owner contributes to the housing shortage in the area. In Ironwood the city identified vacant homes based on water usage and sent letters to those property owners encouraging them to consider selling or renting their vacant home to help ease the shortage here.