Former fraternity, nursing home could be reborn thanks to Delaware County land bank

Delaware County Treasurer Donald Rankey and other officials had to wear hazardous materials suits on May 11, 2021, to inspect the inside of an 1870s-era home at 54 W. Lincoln Ave. (in background) in downtown Delaware. The home is only the second building to be placed in the 4-year-old county land bank.
Delaware County Treasurer Donald Rankey and other officials had to wear hazardous materials suits on May 11, 2021, to inspect the inside of an 1870s-era home at 54 W. Lincoln Ave. (in background) in downtown Delaware. The home is only the second building to be placed in the 4-year-old county land bank.

The stone and brick Victorian house in downtown Delaware has had several lives — among them as a private residence, fraternity house and a nursing home.

But when the Sunny Vee Nursing Home stopped operating at 54 W. Lincoln Ave. about 15 years ago and the owners stopped paying property taxes, local officials and neighbors began to worry that it would become a nuisance in an otherwise vibrant neighborhood.

There were no bids in two sheriff's sales. Potential buyers were not willing to assume responsibility for the more than $150,000 in back property taxes. And the structure sat empty with vines growing around the front door, water seeping through the roof and major work needed to revive it.

But there is newfound hope.

Members of the Delaware County Land Reutilization Corporation board of directors, who oversee the 4-year-old Delaware County Land Bank, voted 4-0 last week to include the building in the land bank. That means that work can begin to put the home up for sale, while, by law, wiping out the tax obligation.

The house is only the second property to be included in the land bank since its creation in 2018. The first property, the former Delaware County Jail and Sheriff's residence next to the historic courthouse, was in the land bank briefly, enabling its sale in October for $350,000 to the Delaware County Historical Society.

"That's the power of land banks," said Jeff Benton, a Delaware County commissioner and chairman of the land bank board. "Someone can now acquire it free of liens and put it back into the hands of the private sector quickly. And everybody benefits from that."

Last May, representatives from the city and county donned hazardous materials suits and toured the interior, hoping to determine how much work would be needed.

Benton was told that an annex added for the nursing home was badly damaged with grass growing inside, mold and structural problems. Demolition of the annex would cost about $80,000 he was told.

But while the main structure, dating to the 1870s, might require $400,000 to renovate including removal of asbestos, it is structurally sound.

Unlike land banks that operate in more urban areas, Delaware County's doesn't have many blighted properties.

First-term Delaware County Treasurer Donald Rankey, a member of the land bank board, compiled a list of about 106 properties that have extensive back taxes and might be foreclosure candidates.

He initially was concerned about the Sunny Vee property being included because of its size and complexity.

"If you're going to start a land bank, you don't want to start out with probably the hardest property you're ever going to deal with."

Rankey is optimistic, however, and eager to add more properties once they go through the foreclosure process.

Dave Efland, co-chairman of the land bank board and Delaware city's planning and development director, also sees promise.

Even one vacant property "has a destabilizing effect on the surrounding neighborhood," Efland said in an email response.

"A land bank is a valuable tool and a net positive for our city," he said. "It establishes a means to deal with properties that have difficulties, are upside down on taxes and just sitting vacant like this one is."

Long-time history buff, David Hejmanowski, who also is a Delaware County Juvenile Court judge, added: ‘A community should have as many tools as possible to preserve its history. In that regard, the land Bank is one more tool that Delaware County can use to preserve historic structures that might otherwise be lost to the wrecking ball.’

The interior of the annex is heavily damaged and likely will require $80,000 to demolish, according to experts. Photo taken May 11, 2021 during an inspection.
The interior of the annex is heavily damaged and likely will require $80,000 to demolish, according to experts. Photo taken May 11, 2021 during an inspection.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Delaware County: Former fraternity in land bank for redevelopment