<body><div>Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...The Dublin-Laurens Land Bank is seeking local developers to transform vacant, eye sore lots into affordable housing in neighborhoods across Dublin. “We want to partner with developers in underserved communities, get houses on [these lots], said Matt Sweat, who chairs the Land Bank’s governing board. “…Once we get that snowball rolling it improves the entire block. It improves the entire neighborhood.”The Land Bank authority is a quasi-governmental body that works to get abandoned or seized property, particularly residential parcels, into the hands of investors willing to build housing and make the land a viable part of the city tax rolls. The Land Bank has the authority to waive unpaid taxes on a property as well as work through the courts to obtain a clear land title, obstacles that could turn off most potential buyers. Saving developers that time and money, Sweat said, helps keep costs low, allowing the houses to be sold cheaper. In recent years the authority has worked to rehab existing structures into livable homes, but now it is sitting on an inventory of vacant lots and it needs builders to take them off its hands. At a recent meeting at Dublin City Hall, Land Bank leaders showcased their efforts, as well as about a. dozen lots in need of new owners and houses. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=49d69O_1Efh1QsE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49d69O_1Efh1QsE00" width="2048" height="1364" ><figcaption>Sonya May Calvin, executive director of the Dublin-Laurens Land Bank speaks during a meeting with area developers at Dublin City Hall. The Land Bank maintains an inventory of abandoned and seized property, looking to get it back in the hand of investors/ KYLE DOMINY</figcaption></figure>Highlighted lots were on South Church St., Benton St, Ray St., Charles Manning Way, Johnson St. and Moore St.“All of these have potential,” said Sonya May Calvin, land bank executive director. The Dublin-Laurens Land Bank recently finished its first new development project, with a home at 109 Kennedy St. built by Purple Dog Properties. The structure was unveiled at an Aug. 12 open house.To future improve Dublin’s neighborhoods, Calvin is working to organize a community clean up day this fall. She is seeking churches, civic groups and other volunteers to spearhead a “Fight the Blight” initiative to clean blighted properties, remove trash and debris from streets and help cut grass and weeds in yards. Calvin is theming her effort after “Green Acres,” the 1960s TV sitcom about wealthy city socialites moving to a rural community. “Dublin is ‘the place to be,'” she said referencing the show’s theme song. “It’s our home and we should treasure it. When people visit Dublin they should want to move to it, to help develop it.”City leaders have taken several recent actions to tackle blight and attempt to kickstarting housing development. The city has tightened and increased penalties against homeowners who fail to maintain their yards and property. Home builders also will see decreased costs tied to fees and permits within the city limits. Building within the city’s Urban Development Areas or on blighted property is further incentivized with deeply reduced or even waived permit costs on everything from demolition fees to expenses tied to connecting to city utilities.</div></body>

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Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Dublin-Laurens Land Bank is seeking local developers to transform vacant, eye sore lots into affordable housing in neighborhoods across Dublin. “We want to partner with developers in underserved communities, get houses on [these lots], said Matt Sweat, who chairs the Land Bank’s governing...

Land Bank seeks developers to transform vacant city lots

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Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Dublin-Laurens Land Bank is seeking local developers to transform vacant, eye sore lots into affordable hous

Land Bank seeks developers to transform vacant city lots

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