Tax liens donated to Youngstown church

YOUNGSTOWN — Lien Forward Ohio has donated real estate tax lien certificates on 68 parcels in the Lettie, Bristol and Courtland streets vicinity to Spanish Evangelical Church.

The church, which shares a building with Metro Assembly of God at 2530 South Ave., has plans to build a church complex of its own in that area. The Rev. Rolando Rojas, pastor of Spanish Evangelical Church, said the church owns five of the 12 acres it needs to build a new church, parking area, multipurpose center and outreach facility. The cost of the proposed complex is estimated at between $1.5 million and $2 million. A capital campaign is being planned. The church has 120 members.

Spanish Evangelical already had bought other liens on other properties in that area in a previous tax lien certificate sale. The liens do not make the church the owner of the properties. But the tax liens give interested parties leverage to acquire ownership, either by getting deeds from original owners or by filing foreclosure action in court.