(a) Any housing authority now or hereafter established pursuant to this title, or any incorporated city or town may carry out any work or undertaking, hereafter called a "redevelopment project":
(1) To acquire blighted property as defined in subsection (c).
(2) To acquire other real property for the purpose of removing, preventing, or reducing blight, blighting factors, or the causes of blight, but this authority to acquire such other property shall not be construed to grant the power of eminent domain to acquire property that is not blighted without the consent of the owner.
(3) To clear any areas acquired and install, construct, or reconstruct streets, utilities, and site improvements essential to the preparation of sites for uses in accordance with the redevelopment plan.
(4) To sell or lease land so acquired for uses in accordance with the redevelopment plan.
(5) To accomplish a combination of the foregoing to carry out a redevelopment plan.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a redevelopment project may include property that is not blighted, but the power of eminent domain may not be exercised to acquire property that is not blighted without the consent of the owner.
(c) For the purposes of this section and Section 24-3-2, the term "blighted property" means property that contains any of the following factors:
(1) The presence of structures, buildings, or improvements, which, because of dilapidation, deterioration, or unsanitary or unsafe conditions, vacancy or abandonment, neglect or lack of maintenance, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, vermin infestation, or lack of necessary facilities and equipment, are unfit for human habitation or occupancy.
(2) The existence of high density of population and overcrowding or the existence of structures which are fire hazards or are otherwise dangerous to the safety of persons or property or any combination of the factors.
(3) The presence of a substantial number of properties having defective or unusual conditions of title which make the free transfer or alienation of the properties unlikely or impossible.
(4) The presence of structures from which the utilities, plumbing, heating, sewerage, or other facilities have been disconnected, destroyed, removed, or rendered ineffective so that the property is unfit for its intended use.
(5) The presence of excessive vacant land on which structures were previously located which, by reason of neglect or lack of maintenance, has become overgrown with noxious weeds, is a place for accumulation of trash and debris, or a haven for mosquitoes, rodents, or other vermin where the owner refuses to remedy the problem after notice by the appropriate governing body.
(6) The presence of property which, because of physical condition, use, or occupancy, constitutes a public nuisance or attractive nuisance where the owner refuses to remedy the problem after notice by the appropriate governing body.
(7) The presence of property with code violations affecting health or safety that has not been substantially rehabilitated within the time periods required by the applicable codes.
(8) The presence of property that has tax delinquencies exceeding the value of the property.
(9) The presence of property which, by reason of environmental contamination, poses a threat to public health or safety in its present condition.
Last modified: May 3, 2021