Ohio's demolition program ends

By Marc Kovac | February 28, 2015 at 12:02a.m.

COLUMBUS

The state helped to demolish more than 14,600 homes abandoned to foreclosure, through a program funded by a settlement with mortgage servicers.

In Mahoning County, grants totaling more than $1.5 million were used to demolish 308 homes, at an average cost of $8,299.

Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the completion of the Moving Ohio Forward Demolition Grant Program on Friday, capping a couple of years of efforts to remove deteriorating structures from neighborhoods.

“Clearing foreclosure-ravaged neighborhoods of abandoned structures generally improves property values and sparks community rejuvenation,” DeWine said.

Ohio directed $75 million in settlement funds from mortgage companies toward the effort, earmarking portions to each of the state’s 88 counties based on the number of properties foreclosed between 2008 and 2011. In total, 14,608 blighted homes were demolished at an average cost of about $8,100.

DeWine cited an example in Mansfield, where an abandoned house was subject to 21 separate police and fire calls.

“The constant calls diverted police and fire resources to this unoccupied property,” he said. “Using Moving Ohio Forward grant funds, Mansfield was able to demolish this property and eradicate the health and safety threat it caused.”

In Trumbull County, nearly $1.4 million was used to demolish 374 homes, at an average cost of $5,914.

And in Columbiana County, nearly $556,000 was used to demolish 72 homes, at an average cost of $8,202.

“The mortgage crisis upended tens of thousands of lives across the country and disrupted dozens of Ohio towns and neighborhoods,” DeWine said. “By tearing down blighted properties through our program, we helped Ohio communities restore property values and regenerate economic-development potential and ensure that citizens and families have a safe place to live.”