Reclaiming Vacant Property Conference

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Springfield’s longest-serving mayor, is dedicated to economic development, financial stewardship, and community-driven initiatives. First elected in 2007, he is now in his historic sixth term, focusing on quality-of-life improvements, education, housing, and public safety.

Sarno has prioritized housing development, overseeing major investments in affordable and market-rate housing, neighborhood revitalization projects, and homeownership initiatives. His administration has advanced projects like the Gemini Townhomes, 31 Elm Street redevelopment, and numerous housing construction and improvement efforts to expand access to quality living spaces.

Sarno has guided the city through significant challenges, including natural disasters, a recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining Springfield’s highest-ever bond rating. His administration has overseen $5 billion in public and private investment, revitalizing the city’s economy, arts, and culture.

A strong advocate for fiscal responsibility and community engagement, Sarno continues to lead efforts that ensure a prosperous future for all Springfield residents.

Dina Fein is a retired judge and thought leader focused on advancing access to justice, neighborhood stabilization, and affordable homeownership. Having served on the Massachusetts Housing Court for 21 years, Judge Fein has subject matter expertise in all areas of the law related to housing and a unique perspective on the role of housing on individuals, families, and communities. 

Since retiring from the bench, Judge Fein has been a leading advocate at the intersection of initiatives to enhance access to justice and promote housing stability. Judge Fein designed and operationalized the City of Homes project in Springfield, Massachusetts, which seeks to transfer vacant distressed properties to nonprofits for rehabilitation and affordable sale to income-eligible first-time homebuyers. She assisted in obtaining $3M in seed funding for the project, which she is now helping to scale beyond Springfield. A founding member of the Vacant Property Receivership Consortium at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, Judge Fein is also the Interim Director at the Western New England School of Law Center for Social Justice. 

Appointed to the Western Division of the Massachusetts Housing Court Department in 1999, Judge Fein became First Justice in 2008 and was cross-designated to sit in the District Court, Juvenile Court, and Superior Court departments. In 2009, Judge Fein was appointed by the Chief Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court and the Trial Court to lead Access to Justice initiatives across the Massachusetts court system, launching and operationalizing statewide efforts to simplify court processes, expand legal assistance programs, and better accommodate the public. A recipient of judicial excellence awards from the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Judges Conference, Judge Fein has served on numerous judicial and professional committees, including the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission (Executive Committee), the Trial Court’s Strategic Leadership Team (Domain Lead), and the Statewide Steering Committee for the Tenancy Preservation Program (Chair). 

A graduate of Emory College and the Emory University School of Law, Judge Fein began her career with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and was a partner in Fein, Pearson, Emond & Fein in Springfield for 14 years. An Adjunct Professor at Western New England University School of Law, Judge Fein has guest lectured at Harvard Law School, Suffolk University Law School, and New England School of Law, and is a frequent speaker around the county on the topics of access to justice and housing stability.

Amber Villa is the Chief of the Neighborhood Renewal Division in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, leading efforts to revitalize abandoned properties, expand affordable housing, and support municipalities in ensuring safe, habitable homes.

The Neighborhood Renewal Division, created from the Attorney General’s Abandoned Housing Initiative (AHI), uses the enforcement authority of the State Sanitary Code to turn around abandoned residential properties. Partnering with cities and towns, the division identifies negligent property owners and urges them to make repairs. If they refuse, attorneys petition the courts to appoint a receiver to bring the property up to code, helping restore homes for Massachusetts families. Since 2017, AHI has revitalized over 450 properties in 146 communities and recovered more than $1 million in unpaid municipal fees.

Villa has been a key figure in housing policy, serving as Director of AHI since 2016. Since joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2008, she has worked on major housing and mortgage lending cases, including the National Mortgage Settlement, and helped launch the AGO’s HomeCorps program for foreclosure relief. She also led tobacco enforcement efforts, helping implement statewide e-cigarette regulations.

Previously, Villa practiced law at Dechert LLP and Sally & Fitch. She holds a law degree from Boston College Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and son.

Steve Barlow and Danny Schaffzin are at the forefront of neighborhood preservation and blight abatement efforts in Memphis, Tennessee. With extensive experience in law, community development, and legislative advocacy, they have been instrumental in shaping policies and legal strategies to combat property neglect and strengthen urban neighborhoods.

Steve Barlow serves as Vice President and General Counsel of The Works, Inc. and previously led Neighborhood Preservation, Inc. as President. Since 1995, he has been deeply involved in community organizing, legislative advocacy, and neighborhood revitalization. His work includes utilizing civil litigation in Shelby County Environmental Court to hold negligent property owners accountable, as well as managing public nuisance litigation for the City of Memphis and the Downtown Memphis Commission. Steve also co-founded and teaches the Neighborhood Preservation Clinic at the University of Memphis School of Law, where law students engage in anti-blight litigation.

Danny Schaffzin is an Associate Professor of Law and Director of Experiential Learning at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. As Co-Director of the Neighborhood Preservation Clinic, he leads faculty and law students in representing the City of Memphis in legal action against blighted properties. In addition, he serves as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for Neighborhood Preservation, further solidifying his impact on citywide efforts to improve housing conditions.

Together, Barlow and Schaffzin have played a pivotal role in the Strategic Code Enforcement Management Academy (SCEMA)—an educational initiative dedicated to strengthening the capacity of leaders involved in state and municipal code enforcement. With backing from the University of Memphis and Neighborhood Preservation, Inc., and with initial funding from the Kresge Foundation, SCEMA launched in 2017 as a first-of-its-kind program providing comprehensive training to public officials, attorneys, urban planners, and community advocates. Their vision is rooted in the collaborative efforts that led to the Blight Elimination Charter, a groundbreaking 2016 agreement uniting municipal, county, and public interest leaders in Memphis around a shared commitment to eradicating property blight.

Through their legal expertise, advocacy, and educational leadership, Barlow and Schaffzin continue to make Memphis a national model for innovative, community-driven solutions to urban blight.