Section 1702 - Findings and declaration of policyIt is hereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding--
(a) That there exist in urban communities in this Commonwealth areas which have become blighted because of the unsafe, unsanitary, inadequate or over-crowded condition of the dwellings therein, or because of inadequate planning of the area, or excessive land coverage by the buildings thereon, or the lack of proper light and air and open space, or because of the defective design and arrangement of the buildings thereon, or faulty street or lot layout, or economically or socially undesirable land uses.(b) That such conditions or a combination of some or all of them have and will continue to result in making such areas economic or social liabilities, harmful to the social and economic well-being of the entire communities in which they exist, depreciating values therein, reducing tax revenues, and thereby depreciating further the general community-wide values.(c) That the foregoing conditions are beyond remedy or control by regulatory processes in certain blighted areas, or portions thereof, and cannot be effectively dealt with by private enterprise under existing law without the additional aids herein granted, and that such conditions exist chiefly in areas which are so subdivided into small parcels and in divided ownerships that their assembly for purposes of clearance, replanning and redevelopment is difficult and impossible without the effective public power of eminent domain.(c.1) That certain blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require total acquisition, clearance and disposition, subject to continuing controls as provided in this act, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by rehabilitation or conservation, and that other blighted areas, or portion thereof, through the means provided in this act, may be susceptible to rehabilitation or conservation or a combination of clearance and disposition and rehabilitation or conservation in such manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated or remedied.(d) That the replanning and redevelopment of such areas in accordance with sound and approved plans for their redevelopment will promote the public health, safety, convenience and welfare.(e) That there exist within the Commonwealth both within and outside of certified redevelopment areas, properties which have become derelict, abandoned or unfit for human habitation or other use by reasons of age, obsolescence, prolonged vacancy, dilapidation, deterioration, lack of maintenance and care or general neglect.(f) That such derelict properties individually and collectively constitute a blight and nuisance in the neighborhood; create fire and health hazards; are used for immoral and criminal purposes; constitute unreasonable interferences with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of other premises in the neighborhood; are harmful to the social and economic well-being of any municipality; depreciate property values; and, generally jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of the public.(g) That there exists a serious shortage of decent, safe or sanitary housing accommodations and for related usages, and that the acquisition of blighted properties for residential and related uses, by eminent domain is a proper public purpose which will promote public health, safety and welfare.(h) That there exists within the Commonwealth, both within and outside certified redevelopment areas, an inadequate supply of residential owner-occupied and rental housing due, in part, to the deterioration of older dwellings, the elimination of substandard dwellings by governmental action, the increased cost of construction and the unavailability of affordable financing from the private sector.(i) That there exists within the Commonwealth, both within and outside certified redevelopment areas, deteriorating commercial and industrial areas and/or individual structures, due, in part, to the fact that there are no private funds available to finance the purchase, construction, rehabilitation, demolition or equipping of the commercial and industrial properties at interest rates that would make the commercial or industrial project economically feasible. Such commercial or industrial projects are needed for the social and economic well-being of communities within the field of operation of authorities. Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants thereof by the creation of bodies corporate and politic to be known as Redevelopment Authorities, which shall exist and operate for the public purposes of the elimination of blighted areas through economically and socially sound redevelopment of such areas, as provided by this act, in conformity with the comprehensive general plan of their respective municipalities for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial or other purposes, and otherwise encouraging the provision of healthful homes, a decent living environment and adequate places of employment of the people of this Commonwealth. Such purposes are hereby declared to be public uses for which public money may be spent and private property may be acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent domain.
1945, May 24, P.L. 991, § 2. Amended 1957, May 27, P.L. 197, § 1; 1968, June 26, P.L. 263, No. 125, § 1; 1978 , June 23, P.L. 556, No. 94, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1988 , March 30, P.L. 304, No. 39, § 1, imd. effective.