Land bank to sell Cambridge lots for conversion to green space
The Guernsey County Land Bank Board on Wednesday approved the sale of three lots at the corner of Clark Street and Beatty Avenue in Cambridge to residents William and Kathleen Bennett, who committed to converting the area into a green space with trees.
The land bank will sell the property for $15,000 with the Bennetts pledging to spend an additional $3,000 for trees and potentially a bench for visitors.
"I am interested in beautifying that street because we all know those trees that were on that street will never come back because there is no tree lawn left on that street," said Kathleen Bennett at the meeting Wednesday.
"I looked at that lot and said to my husband, wouldn't it be nice if the city would just plant some trees there to replace some of the trees we lost when the street was rehabbed. We started talking about it and we discussed maybe buying that lot, or three lots, and giving it to the city with the intention that it would never be developed or re-sold and it would stay as a green space with trees and maybe a bench.
"That's all we really had in mind...a nice green space," concluded Bennett.
Once the property is purchased by the Bennetts and converted into a green space, they will give ownership to the city with stipulations that it be maintained by the city and will not be sold for development.
Board members unanimously agreed with the offer and stipulations prior to approving the sale.
A local attorney, William Bennett will work Kim Conrath of the land bank to prepare a bill of sale for the transaction and the deeds to transfer the lots from the land bank to the Bennetts and from the local family to the city once the renovations are complete.
Conrath said there are no requirements the land bank needs to fulfill prior to the sale of the property that is expected to take place in the near future.
Mayor Tom Orr and Conrath said crews will continue to maintain the site while the upgrades are completed.
"This is very commendable of you and your husband, and we really appreciate it," said Land Bank President Jim Caldwell.
"This is awesome," added Orr of the proposed improvements.
The land bank previously contracted with Lehotay Construction to raze a two-story house on the corner after it fell into disrepair. Lehotay submitted the lone contract for the demolition work.
Orr did report the city is planning to plant trees along Clark Street and Steubenville Avenue in the fall after street work is completed in both locations. At least some of the trees along Clark Street will be planted in private yards, according to Orr.
In other business:
The board approved a motion to sell property on Old Glory Road to a neighbor for $500 to avoid future expenses to maintain the property after recently paying to have a downed tree removed.
Conrath reported she received the deeds requested for properties on Church Street in Senecaville and South 10th Street in Cambridge in preparation for sale to approved buyers. Title searches are currently in progress for both locations.
Brandon Hines provided an update regarding the initial disbursements of brownfield grant funds to three Ohio counties. Guernsey County did not apply for the funds.
He also said they are still waiting on information regarding the status of demolition grant funds for which Guernsey County submitted approximately 30 potential projects.
"We are ready to proceed once we know something," said Conrath when Orr inquired if there is an pre-project work that can be completed.
"We just sit and wait at this point," added Caldwell.
Kim Haught and Hines provided an update regarding a grant application for funds to purchase a plaque to recognize the historical site of the Knights of Pythias where a former building was razed in Pleasant City.
The building once housed the Knights of Pythias - an international, non-sectarian fraternal order, established in 1864 in Washington, D.C., by Justus H. Rathbone.
The Knights of Pythias are still active in other parts of the country and was the first fraternal order to be chartered by an Act of Congress.
Board member Ron Gombeda of the Guernsey County Community Development Corporation discussed the condition of two buildings on Wheeling Avenue after the owner inquired about selling them to the CDC.
Gombeda reported the vacant buildings are a safety concern.
"They are in danger of collapsing," he said while expressing concern for the neighboring buildings that are occupied by local businesses.
Finally, Conrath reported the land bank's current bank balance is $40,512.62.
The land bank board is next scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25 in the ground floor conference room at the County Administration Building, 627 Wheeling Ave. in Cambridge.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Land bank to sell Cambridge lots for conversion to green space
