11-8-3."Blighted area" defined.
Wherever used or referred to in this chapter, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context, "blighted area" shall mean an area which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of slum, deteriorated or deteriorating structures, predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site or other improvements, diversity of ownership, tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land, defective or unusual conditions of title, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other cause, or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a municipality, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use: provided, that if such blighted area consists of open land the conditions contained in §11-8-17 shall apply: and provided further, that any disaster area referred to in §11-8-18 shall constitute a "blighted area."
Source: SL 1966, ch 149, §2 (9).