New law will create county land banks

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Local officials engaged in returning vacant land to productive use said land-bank legislation Gov. Ted Strickland signed Wednesday will help their cause.

Ninety days from now, under House Bill 313, treasurers of counties with populations of 60,000 or more — including Trumbull and Columbiana — will be able to create county land banks. The land banks will be nonprofit organizations that acquire vacant, abandoned properties to be maintained, renovated, demolished or resold.

Lien Forward’s executive director, Debora Flora, said land banks can:

Acquire vacant properties quickly, accelerating the return of these properties to tax-paying status.

Buy properties, foreclose on tax-delinquent parcels, accept properties as gifts and hire contractors to rehabilitate or maintain properties.

Apply for grants and accept donations to fund their activities without raising taxes.

Assemble parcels for future development opportunities.

Assist municipalities with property management.

Lien Forward is a regional council of governments that has assisted or is assisting in the return of 740 tax-delinquent Mahoning County properties to productive use, Flora added.