Land Banks
At the request of local officials throughout Ohio, the General Assembly introduced bi-partisan legislation to expand the number of counties able to create a countywide land bank. This powerful tool has been used to address issues related to the foreclosure crisis and help communities stabilize and ultimately restore neighborhoods. House Bill 313, introduced by former Representative Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo) and Representative Roland Winburn (D-Dayton) overwhelmingly passed both chambers and was signed into law on April 7, 2010.
The bill allows 41 counties, in addition to Cuyahoga County, the ability to establish nonprofit corporations to promote, develop, and manage the rehabilitation and reutilization of vacant, abandoned tax-foreclosed properties. It expands on legislation that previously passed the Ohio General Assembly which allowed only Cuyahoga County such authority.
In addition to expanding the number of counties eligible to take advantage of this tool, the bill also made several other improvements to the existing law. One of the most important changes allows for counties to increase the number of members serving on the land bank’s board of directors to ensure that the board’s makeup best reflects the community’s unique needs. The legislation ensures that the largest municipality is represented on the board as well as requires a representative with private sector or nonprofit experience in rehabilitation or real estate acquisitions.
Also critically important to the success of the land bank in helping stabilize and revitalize our communities, the legislation provides immunity protection based on the condition of the property when it is acquired by the county land bank. This change will further ensure that the county land bank continues its pursuit of properties that are in the best interest of the communities they serve.
Greater Ohio was pleased to have been involved in the legislation. While we are hopeful that this proven tool will be able to help locals address decay in their communities, we recognize our work is not done in this area. We will be assisting eligible localities with land bank implementation and gearing up again in the near future to explore expanding this authority to all 88 counties on a permissive basis as well as allow for multi-county land banks, so stay tuned for more opportunities to weigh in on this important tool.
Links to exisiting County Land Banks in Ohio:
Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation
Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation
Related information:
Download Greater Ohio Press Release on the passage of Land Bank Legislation