Land bank cleaning up properties

HURON — The Erie County Land Reutilization Corp., better known as the land bank, has committed $160,000 to help fight blight in Erie County. The money, which has been allocated to six separate projects across Erie County, was collected through funding from delinquent tax and assessment collection. Thanks to the recommendation of Erie County treasurer Caleb Stidham and a resolution passed by the Erie County commissioners, the county land bank was able to collect delinquent tax and assessment collection funds for the first time in 2022. As part of the land bank's continued commitment to eliminate blight, remediate environmental concerns and improve property values throughout Erie County, the land bank's leadership, including its board of directors, announced two new programs this summer. • The first was a grant program designed to help local communities pay for demolition-related expenses. • The second was a program to reimburse nonprofits, businesses and private owners for the demolition of abandoned and blighted properties. Among the properties included in these programs will be a future park in the city of Huron, the former nuisance Dog House Bar, also known as Amirah's Turn, in the city of Sandusky and a duplex on Sandusky's west side neighborhood that will be transformed into an entryway for the Erie County Health Department. We are extremely pleased with the projects we have been able to partner on and excited to see the value added to our communities. This program proves how, with commitment from our local officials and a vision for a better Erie County, we can cooperate with communities and landowners to make great things happen. For more information on the Erie County land bank, please visit eriecounty.oh.gov/eriecountylandreutilizationcorporation.aspx or contact 419-624-6894 or email alexj@eriecounty.oh.gov. Locating the land The following is a list of the approved projects, their anticipated costs and proposed end use all overseen by the Erie County land bank: Project 1 — 624 Berlin Road, Huron • Partner: City of Huron • Anticipated cost: $63,000 • Project specifics: Removal of asbestos, demolition of structures, grading and seeding of the soil • End use: Public Park Project 2 — 2719 Columbus Ave., Sandusky • Partner: Perkins Township • Anticipated cost: $20,000 • Project specifics: Demolition of structure, grading and seeding of the soil • End use: Property retained by owner Project 3 — 1002 W. Jefferson St., Sandusky • Partner: City of Sandusky • Anticipated cost: $23,300 • Project specifics: Abatement of asbestos, demolition of a structure, grading and seeding soil • End use: Redevelopment of property Project 4 — 3201 W. Monroe St., Sandusky • Partner: City of Sandusky • Anticipated cost: $24,000 • Project specifics: Demolition of structure, grading and seeding soil and removal of trees on the property • End use: Signage for the Erie County Health Department Project 5 —6412 Milan Road (U.S. 250), Sandusky • Partner: Perkins Township • Anticipated cost: $15,000 • Project specifics: demolition of several structures on the property, grading and seeding soil • End use: property retained by owner Project 6 — Corner of Ohio 60 and Ohio 113, Florence Township • Partner: Private owners • Anticipated cost: $20,000 • Project specifics: abatement of asbestos, demolition of a structure, grading and seeding soil • End use: property retained by owner