Land bank seeking grants to demolish, revitalize local properties
The Guernsey County Land Bank on Wednesday discussed potential properties to submit for funding through the Brownfield Remediation and Building Demolition & Site Revitalization programs being offered by the Ohio Department of Development.
"We need to identify properties for the Brownfield Remediation program and we would like to have 10 to 15 properties for the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization program," said land bank Director and Guernsey County Treasurer Jim Caldwell. "The more properties we have in the pipeline, the better chance we have of getting grant funding."
Cambridge Mayor Tom Orr made a motion seconded by Commissioner Jack Marlin for the land bank to apply for the two grant programs.
The deadline for the Brownfield Remediation program is Jan. 30, while the Building Demolition & Site Revitalization program deadline is Feb. 28.
Byesville Mayor Jay Jackson and Guernsey County Community Development Corporation Director Ron Gombeda were asked to submit potential properties for both programs. while Orr recommended the board solicit township trustees for potential candidates for the demolition program.
Commissioner Dave Wilson said he and fellow commissioners Skip Gardner and Marlin would coordinate contact with the county trustees.
A few of the properties proposed for demolition during the meeting include a building damaged by fire on North Fifth Street in Cambridge, a building at the corner of Spruce and Second streets in Byesville and two properties in Cumberland.
If approved, the Brownfield Remediation and Building Demolition and Site Revitalization programs offer up to $1 million and $500,000, respectively, in funding for each county.
More: New funding program: County could see $1M for brownfield remediation
The Brownfield Remediation program was created to award grants to assist in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at an industrial, commercial or institutional property in the county.
Nearly $350 million in funds are available through the Ohio Department of Development for the grants with $1 million set aside for each county in the state.
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program included in substitute House Bill 110 provides $150 million with a $500,000 set aside per county.
Reserved funds not used within a calendar year of the appropriation date of July 1, 2021, will become available for other grants through the state.
In other business, the board also approved moving forward with a contract to purchase a vacant house at 202 Church St. in Senecaville. The sale of the property to the highest bidder was authorized by the board in November 2021.
More: Land bank approves selling Church Street property in Senecaville to highest bidder
Treasurer Kim Conrath reported two bids — $5,000 and $3,600 — were received by the land bank. The buyer will secure a Zanesville-based title company to complete the necessary paperwork for the sale, which is expected occur in the next 30 to 60 days.
Board members approved a motion to request ownership of multiple properties in the city from the State of Ohio for sale to potential buyers.
An adjacent property owner on South 10th Street submitted a $3,000 offer for a lot with a garage and residents who owner property on Old Byesville Road and Cambridge Street offered $3,000 for two adjoining, vacant lots.
According to Orr, an East Cambridge resident has also expressed interest in purchasing a vacant residence on Broad Street. No monetary offer has been made for the property.
Orr also discussed an inquiry regarding three vacant lots at the intersection of Clark Street and Beatty Avenue by individuals interested in converting the property into a park that would be maintained by the city.
"They would like to buy the property and plant trees and other things to make it a park before giving it back to the city if the city agrees to maintain it," said Orr. "The answer to that (maintenance) would be yes."
The board approved entering into negotiations with the potential buyer with the mayor being designated as the land bank's representative to conduct the negotiations.
The current asking price for the lots is $50,000.
Miscellaneous items discussed during the meeting included:
Caldwell praised Gombeda for cleanup efforts by the CDC at a North Fifth Street property in Cambridge. Gombeda advised the board he plans to build a house on the lot in the future after meeting with city officials to help with local housing issues.
Board members agreed to follow up with Pleasant City officials to confirm they will take ownership of a vacant lot in the village once a historical marker required by the Ohio Historical Connection is erected later this year. The land bank will apply for a grant in May to fund the marker recognizing the former location of the Knights of Pythias.
Jennifer Zaayer of the Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will review the land bank bylaws to determine if the secretary is required to be an employee of the city, county or other entity to serve in that capacity.
The land bank's current bank balance is $37,657.19.
Orr discussed improvements to a Wall Avenue property formerly owned by the land bank. "It plants a seed of hope," said the mayor.
Members discussed potentially creating a web page to display properties that are for sale by the land bank. It will be addressed again at the next meeting.
The Land Bank will next meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the EOC conference room at the Guernsey County Administration Building, 627 Wheeling Ave. in Cambridge.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Land bank seeking grants to demolish, revitalize local properties
