Chillicothe & Ross County Land Bank Deals With More than Just Eyesores in City Limits

Chillicothe & Ross County — The Land Bank held their periodic meeting Monday, March 25th, 2024, with a list of 27 properties for consideration, and are closing up one set of grants and applying for a new set.

The Ross County Land Reutilization Corporation, better known as the Chillicothe Land Bank, is chaired by Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney. He said the meeting was fairly short because after a few years they have streamlined their process and are working pretty efficiently.

Feeney said their two significant grants are on demolition and acquisition of blighted properties, and “brownfield” revitalization. They are closing out grants for $1,500,000, and working on applying for new grants for the same value.

“Brownfield” sites are industrial or commercial properties that are contaminated by lead, gasoline, or oil, for example – in contrast to “greenfield” sites that are undeveloped land.

The grants pay to test and confirm pollutants, and then clean them out. The testing is relatively cheap, but there is and will be only about a million dollars available for cleaning, which may restrict them to only one site.

Feeney says they plan to have their brownfield list finalized on Friday. If anyone wants to report a property, they should contact the Chillicothe Planning and Development Office to reach the Land Bank. The Land Bank also has a page on the city’s website, and periodic posting on the city’s Facebook page.

Of the list of 27 properties, about half are outside of the city limits. Feeney said that is because someone in the townships approached the land bank to tackle a property, like a trustee or fiscal officer. The original grants were based on working inside Chillicothe, but now after a few years they can spread their focus. The Land Bank is working with township trustees and the Ross County Health District to find remedies.

Feeney said most of the 27 are eyesores or blighted and need to be demolished. But the city has a tool that the townships don’t – code enforcement, which can nudge owners to fix or sell.

Hear Luke Feeney in his own words in the below video interview.