The document discusses the role of the Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation (HCLRC) in facilitating redevelopment of vacant properties. It describes HCLRC as a quasi-governmental organization with powers to assemble land, provide financing, and coordinate capital for projects. HCLRC works to return vacant properties to productive use through tools like acquiring clean title and holding tax-free. It focuses redevelopment efforts on specific neighborhoods through partnerships and strategies like demolition, acquisition, and public-private partnerships. The document provides examples of HCLRC's redevelopment projects in neighborhoods such as Evanston.

1. The Landbank’s Role in Driving Redevelopment
Chris Recht
Associate Counsel
Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority
Vacant Lots: Occupied
January 17, 2014

2. Who We Are
•
Quasi-governmental organization / official political subdivision
•
Port authorities were created to conduct maritime, airport, and economic
development activities
•
Cooperative, cross-jurisdictional powers
•
Facilitate:
 Land assembly and redevelopment
 Unique economic development financing products
 Aggregation / coordination of project capital

3. Who We Are

4. Who We Are
• Incorporated by the County Treasurer October 2011
• HCLRC Board appointed January 2012
• HCLRC Board executed management contract with Port Authority
• HCLRC remains an independent entity
• Funding: 5% DTAC approx. 2.9mil/yr.

5. Mission
Return vacant properties to productive use
through the tools statutorily provided to the HCLRC
and by leveraging the resources of the HCLRC’s
executive arm, the Port Authority.

6. Purposes of the HCLRC
•
Economic development
•
Blight abatement/nuisance
remediation
•
Neighborhood
stabilization/revitalization
•
Strategic parcel assembly
•
Historic preservation

7. HCLRC Tools That Remove Obstacles to Redevelopment
•
Clean, Marketable Title
•
Hold Property Tax-free
•
Code Enforcement and Nuisance Abatement
•
Liability Shield
•
Dedicated Funding Stream
•
Non-profit entity

8. Methods of Property Acquisition
• Tax foreclosure process
– Board of Revisions
• Forfeited Land
• Deed in Lieu of foreclosure
• Donation/Gift
• Purchase

9. Disposition Priorities: Key Considerations
•
Potential for positive impact on the surrounding community
•
Landbank resources required to ensure success
•
Capacity of the lead organization
•
Financial viability of the project
•
Neighborhood support for the project

10. HCLRC Programs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moving Ohio Forward Demolition Grant Program
Neighborhood Initiative Program
Lot-to-Yard
Gardens and Green
Historic Structure Stabilization Grant Program
HCLRC Rehabilitation Partnership Program
Qualified End-User/Purchaser
Applications available at www.hamiltoncountylandbank.org

11. Developed Focus Neighborhood Strategy

12. Focus Neighborhood Strategy
• Factors considered in selecting focus
communities:
•
•
•
•
•
# of foreclosures
# of code violations/condemnations
Level of public and private investment
Educational and historic resources
Community engagement
• Capacity of a lead community-based organization

13. Focus Neighborhood Strategy
Short-Term
Walnut Hills
Evanston
Madisonville
Avondale
Norwood
St. Bernard
Fairfax

14. Focus Neighborhood Strategy
Long-Term
Price Hill
Northside
South Cumminsville
College Hill
North College Hill
Mount Healthy
Colerain Township

15. Focus Neighborhood Strategy
Purpose: To develop and execute housing and
revitalization strategies in targeted areas
• Engage with CDC/CIC as eyes/ears on the ground
• Identify small, defined priority area for residential and commercial
redevelopment
• Use a phased approach to
revitalization
• Work with lenders to develop
loan products that work
across markets
•

16. Evanston
Neighborhood Facts
• Over 300 foreclosures since 2006
• Over 200 vacant and abandoned buildings
• Population of approximately 9,000
• Proximity to downtown core
• Solid housing stock
• Strong adjacent housing markets
• Strong community council

17. Evanston
•
•
•
Strong Education Anchors
– Xavier University , Academy of World Languages, Evanston Academy
– Walnut Hills High School
Public and Private Investment
– Infrastructure
–
Dana Avenue Streetscape
–
Montgomery Road Streetscape
–
Facade Improvement Program
Other Anchors
– Renovated Recreation Center and Pool
– American Red Cross
– Keystone Parke
– Woodburn Pointe
– Rehabilitated single family homes (Model)
– St Leger Place (Model)

18. Evanston
Partners in executing Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
• Evanston Community Council
• Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
• Xavier University/Community Building Institute
• City of Cincinnati
• LISC(Local Initiatives Support Coalition)
• Model Group
• Port Authority/Land Bank

19. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
1). Target Woodburn Avenue
Corridor, from Dana to Madison

20. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
1). Target Woodburn Avenue Corridor, from Dana to Madison
2). Remediate Blight

21. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
1). Target Woodburn Avenue Corridor, from Dana to Madison
2). Remediate Blight
3). Target Anchor School Buildings

22. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
3). Target Anchor School
Buildings
4). Rehabilitate Key
Corners

23. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
3). Target Anchor School Buildings
4). Rehabilitate Key Corners
5). Stabilize Single Family Housing and Intact Blocks

24. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
6). Focus on Community Safety
7). Create Safe Routes to School
8). Use Partnerships to Leverage Existing Investments

25. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
1). Demolition
• Identify candidates for demolition
• Develop reuse/redevelopment strategies for vacant lots

26. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
1). Demolition
• Identify candidates for demolition
• Develop reuse/redevelopment strategies for vacant lots
2). Property Acquisition
 Tax foreclosure
• i. Tax delinquency
• ii. Foreclose demolition/stabilization liens
• Iii. Forfeited lands

27. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
3). Private Public Partnerships
• St Leger – Model Group
• Homebuilders Association
• Control properties of Walnut Hills High School

28. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
3). Private Public Partnerships
• St Leger – Model Group
• Homebuilders Association
• Control properties of Walnut Hills High School
4). Dedicated Funding Source for Programming

29. 2012 Evanston Housing/Redevelopment Strategy
3). Private Public Partnerships
• St Leger – Model Group
• Homebuilders Association
• Control properties of Walnut Hills High School
4). Dedicated Funding Source for Programming
5). Carry Strategy
 Hold properties tax free
 With liability shield
 Economies of scale (maintenance/insurance)

30. Building Value: Stabilization
Before and After: 1572 Dixmont, Evanston

31. Lot-to-Yard
911 Yale Street, Walnut Hills

32. Lot-to-Yard
Ruth Property,
Evanston

33. Moving Ohio Forward
936-940 McPherson
East Price Hill
to BLOC Ministries

34. Landscaping Installation Opportunities
• 2040 Vine, Mt Auburn

35. Multi-Family Demo: St. Leger

36. Multi-Family Demo: St. Leger

37. 4528 Hamilton Ave., Northside
•
Before and after

38. Key Partners

39. Questions and Discussion

40. Christopher Recht
Associate Counsel
Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority
crecht@cincinnatiport.org
www.cincinnatiport.org
513.621.3000
info@hamiltoncountylandbank.org