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<\/a>\u201cThe Phoenix Initiative is intended to be a collaborative effort between the county and local governments or any other qualified partner,\u201d explained County Commissioner Todd D. Wolfrum, a local attorney who initiated the program based on Section 307.07 of the Ohio Revised Code.\u00a0\u201cWe offer a 50 percent match to assist communities demolish either abandoned structures or ones that have been turned over to the county for back taxes. The demolition would then leave either green space or a building lot, which can then be sold, with the proceeds going back into the program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derelict properties are often safety hazards, said County Commissioner Stan Owens.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbandoned properties may tempt curious children, who could easily be injured by rusty nails or rotted boards,\u201d Owens noted. \u201cThese properties also attract animal or bug infestations that present a hazard to the community. The \u2018broken windows\u2019 theory of criminology says abandoned buildings are a signal that crime is coming. We want to give local leaders another tool to help protect their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blighted properties, many of which are a stark reminder of the recent foreclosure crisis, are also a stumbling block to economic development efforts, added Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger. \u201cA neglected property not only presents an eyesore to the neighborhood, but a signal to potential developers, investors or small business owners that the area is on a downhill slide. That is not a message any of us want to send.\u201d<\/p>\n
The property at 525 N. Chestnut St. will be listed for sale, according to Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer, who added that a buyer would qualify for a five-year property tax abatement under the city\u2019s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program.<\/p>\n