The Land Bank Solution?

There are at least 20,000 vacant properties in Cuyahoga County. Vacant homes and buildings breed crime and chip away at the fiber of neighborhoods. Almost exactly a year ago, The Sound of Ideas asked: should there be a county-wide land bank? Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis said yes and he has made some important gains. Since then, State Senator Thomas Patton sponsored a bill which would lay the groundwork for county land banks throughout the state. Rokakis and Patton point to Genesee County Land Bank in Michigan which helped revitalize Flint. Ohio House and Senate Hearings on the creation of regional land banks will begin in early December. Supporters are optimistic Patton’s bill will pass. What would a land bank do for Northeast Ohio? Is it really a magic bullet? We’ll discuss county land banks Monday at 9am.