The Scioto County Land Bank is showing off its success in returning once-blighted properties into usable land that’s back on the property tax rolls and generating money for the county.
The organization featured pictures of four properties around the county that are in the process of being “greened” to get ready for resale.
The lots are at 1402 17th Street and 1536 7th Street in Portsmouth, 8050 Birch Lane in Wheelersburg, and 1928 Valley Street in New Boston. These properties will soon be ready for sale, joining 21 other properties that have been transformed from dangerous eyesores to tax-generating properties.
The Land Bank thanked the Portsmouth Health Department for helping identify dangerous condemned structures for demolition. The county was able to foreclose on these properties for back taxes and then the land bank used money from federal grants to tear down the houses, saving the City of Portsmouth alone $1,550,000.00 million in tear down costs.
Ohio’s unique land bank program wipes out any back taxes, mortgages, environmental liabilities, or liens on any property it takes possession of. That means folks who buy these properties will get them free and clear of any financial obligations and at a deep discount.
Scioto County Commissioners recently declared that the land bank was moving out of demolition mode after tearing down over 200 houses and focusing on getting these properties sold for redevelopment.