The Power of Land Banks in Glouster, Ohio
Ohio Land Banks
In Ohio, in 2008, new legislation allowed for the establishment of county land reutilization corporations - also known as county land banks - which is now a model for other states. County land banks are nonprofit organizations whose mission is to strategically acquire properties and return them to productive use. This reduces blight, increases property values, supports community goals, and improves the quality of life for county residents.
While each county land bank is customized to the unique needs of the community it serves, land banks typically have three main functions:
Acquire and consolidate vacant parcels through purchases, donations, or intergovernmental transfer from public foreclosure holdings.
Clear title to land and prepare parcels for transfer to a third party for redevelopment or reuse.
Prioritize land for disposition or reuse and sell land for redevelopment to a third party.
The success of Ohio’s first land bank led to subsequent legislation expanding eligibility to all counties in the state.
Athens County Land Bank
In 2018, Bridge Builders, an Athens County group, formed to address the drug epidemic. Their work resulted in the formation of the Athens County Land Bank, whose mission is to eliminate blight and rebuild and revitalize dilapidated buildings.
The Land Bank receives 90% or more of its funding from delinquent tax payment. In the last two years, the Land Bank has received half of those fees, ultimately resulting in about $360,000 over the past two years. The Land Bank also takes property donations as long as there are no other property liens.
Glouster Revitalization
At first the Land Bank focused on residential properties and acquired them through foreclosure or tax delinquency. Glouster has seen a great deal of success. As houses are donated to Habitat for Humanity, properties are offered at below-market values.
Turning to the commercial side, a dedicated group of residents and businesses are attempting to revitalize Glouster through the nonprofit Glouster Revitalization Organization (GRO). Their hope is to bring badly needed businesses, tourism, community engagement, and foot traffic back to the town’s downtown area.
GRO started with the Wonder Bar building. The Land Bank covered the cost to transfer the property ownership and to do the demolition work. This property became a community venue: a greenspace with a stage. Jane Cavarozzi, owner of Dirty Girl Coffee and part of GRO, hosts a First Friday event there with music and food trucks. This project became the proof of concept to show that Glouster was a viable community for additional downtown revitalization.
Other projects are now on the horizon, including a building that Dirty Girl Coffee is acquiring to house their own bean roasting and a small espresso bar. The facility will have an upper level for R&D, barista classes, and a meeting space for other nonprofit partners. GRO was also recently awarded a $100,000 grant for another building, the Knights of Pythias, a three story 9,000 square foot structure. GRO is seeking an investor who cares about the community. GRO envisions it as an entrepreneurial space with room for 3-5 food vendors on the first floor, a business incubator with co-working space and childcare on the second floor, and a ballroom with 16 foot high ceilings that could be an ideal venue for weddings/community events on the third floor.
By people working together that want the best for Glouster, the downtown looks better than it has in years. Blight is being driven out, and others are making investments in improving their own properties.