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4 Salem homes set for demolition under land bank program

SALEM — Four dilapidated houses condemned by housing inspectors are slated for demolition next month, all located in the southwestern part of the city, city Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst said.

Salem is next in line to receive dividends from $3.2 million in federal grant money for the removal of blight from communities, through the Columbiana County Land Reutilitzation Corporation, commonly known as the county land bank. The contractor has been working in Wellsville and East Liverpool, who have received a larger benefit due to the number of eligible homes. Now it’s Salem’s turn. The grant awarded to the land bank specifically covers those three communities.

The addresses targeted for demolition in Salem include 287 W. Wilson St., 364/372 Sharp Ave. (duplex), 538 Columbia St., and 753 Newgarden Ave. Since the land bank was first established, the city has submitted a list of 36 homes for demolition, according to Mayor John Berlin, with six torn down last summer. Now there’s another four making the cut.

“We’re thankful for these, but we’ve got a long way to go,” Kenst said.

He explained that strict guidelines determine what houses meet the criteria for the land bank to consider them for demolition. The property must be residential, must be vacant and the homeowner must be delinquent in paying the property taxes. The property also must be under the possession of the land bank at the time of the slated demolition, usually through a sheriff sale foreclosure.

There had been a delay in the work being done, but Kenst said he spoke with Bobby Ritchie, who oversees the land bank demolition operations, and learned the contractor needs to give a new estimate on cost to have the asbestos removed. Once that’s done, the demolition process can begin.

“These should all be down in April,” Kenst said.

Once the demolitions are completed, the neighbors on either side of the properties in question will have the opportunity to split the land between them, take ownership and pay the taxes on the section they own. If a property owner on one side doesn’t want the land, the other property owner can take full possession, as long as they pay the taxes and maintain the land.

Since the properties were condemned by city housing inspectors, the city has been cutting the grass and housing inspectors have continuously monitored the properties to ensure nobody’s going inside, so the demolitions will free the city up from those responsibilities.

Most of the lots are small and have been considered a nuisance and eyesore to the neighborhoods where they’re located due to their appearances and conditions. Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey had previously complained about the house on Columbia Street and questioned when something was going to be done.

Kenst said there are other houses that need to be demolished, but don’t meet all of the criteria for the land bank at this time because the property owner is still paying the taxes and keeping them current.

He said the city is “taking it step by step” to get rid of the blighted properties.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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