Cities all over the world have this type of policy...
Generally you are heavily taxed for not having your in a derelict state.. You are severely affecting the property values of the neighbourhood..
Builders over the years have let building go derelict for a number of reasons... Drop property values of neighbourhood and then go for a buy out. Leverage planning to ignore height limits..
This is not something that happens in rural areas. This is about living in more compact areas, you can't just do what you like, there is a obligation to the community...
This is the actual announcement:
www.nyc.gov
This will be popular in NYC... They want property owners to take responsibility for the city they live in...