(a) The City of Lorain adopts and implements the procedures set forth in Ohio R.C. Chapter 5722 in order to develop a process to facilitate the effective reutilization of nonproductive land situated in the boundaries of the City of Lorain and owned by the City of Lorain. The procedures set forth in O.R.C. Chapter 5722 are adopted and implemented by the City of Lorain as there exists sufficient and substantial nonproductive land owned by the City of Lorain within the boundaries of the City of Lorain which is of such nature and extent as to necessitate the implementation of a Land Reutilization Program to advance either the return of such nonproductive land to tax revenue generating status or the devotion thereof to public use.
(b) The Director of Building, Housing and Planning shall administer the Land Reutilization Program established pursuant to subsection (a) hereof and Ohio R.C. Chapter 5722. If lands required of such Land Reutilization Program are sold, they shall be sold as follows:
(1) The purchaser shall apply in writing to the Director of Building, Housing and Planning indicating which lot(s) they wish to purchase denoted by the land parcel number and indicating the proposed use for redevelopment of the property. The purchase price shall not be less than fair market value which has been determined to be $8.00 per front foot regardless of the size or location of the lot. Corner lots shall be charged for the front footage on the address side of the property. If two or more persons are interested in purchasing the same lot(s), the lot(s) shall be sold to the purchaser offering the highest price;
(2) The conveyance from the City shall contain the covenant and agreement that the purchaser shall comply with the propsed use for redevelopment. If the purchaser fails to comply, the property and all improvements thereon may immediately revert to the City at no cost after ten days written notification by certified mail to the purchaser, if City Council approves;
(3) It shall further be a condition of the conveyance from the City that the purchaser shall agree in writing to keep the property in their name for a minimum of five (5) years and to maintain the property in accordance with all applicable Health, Building and Property Maintenance Codes of the City. No lot shall be sold to any person who is delinquent of his/her/its real estate taxes and/or municipal income taxes; nor in violation of any Zoning, Building, Health or Property Maintenance Codes of the City. In addition, no property shall be sold to any person who is more than sixty (60) days delinquent on any City utility bill or' in arrears on payments to the Municipality in any capacity;
(4) The conveyances of property sold or transferred pursuant to this section shall contain the covenant and condition that if the property is sold within five years or at any time the purchaser violates any of the existing Health, Building or Property Maintenance Codes, upon ten (10) days written notification by certified mail to the purchaser, if the violations are not corrected within thirty days, the lot and all improvements thereon may immediately revert back to the City, if City Council approves;
(5) At any point in time, no one person, firm, corporation or company may own more than five lots pursuant to the City’s Land Reutilization Program;
(6) The Director of Building, Housing and Planning is authorized to execute and deliver all deeds or other instruments of conveyances necessary to dispose of land acquired though the City's Land Reutilization Program;
(7) The Director of Building, Housing and Planning shall compile and maintain a written inventory of all properties held by and/or obtained under the Land Reutilization Program and establish and maintain records and accounts reflecting all transactions, expenditures and revenues relating to the Land Reutilization Program;
(c) In order to enhance the effectiveness of the Land Reutilization Program, the Director of Building, Housing and Planning may accept, as gifts on behalf of the City, real property, which shall be held, administered and disposed of in the same manner as are lands acquired pursuant to this Section and Ohio R.C. Chapter 5722. Any and all real property offered and/ or accepted must be free of any and all encumbrances.
(Ord. 117-15. Passed 7-20-15.)