MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Land Bank board members on Thursday accepted AMVETS Post #95’s application to buy a small lot adjacent to Heartland Commerce Park.
According to Sam Filkins, land bank president, the Post plans to use parcel 61-01280.000 on the corner of West Sugar and North Adams streets for overflow parking.
Board members previously accepted AMVETS’ application to buy a 2.2-acre parcel (parcel 61-01281.000) in Heartland Commerce Park.
Filkins declined to state a price because the parties have not signed a contract.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners initially bought the 2.2-acre parcel from the land bank for a new transit center. However, the commissioners sold the parcel back when they bought a warehouse building in the commerce park.
AMVETS has been working to finalize a deal with the city and the Ohio Department of Transportation to relocate from their home at 311 S. Mechanic St.
The city needs to acquire the Mechanic Street parcels as part of its State Route 13 realignment project.
Welcome Home Ohio reimburses land bank for first 4 Habitat houses
The Knox County Land Bank will use $650,000 in grant reimbursement money to pay construction costs on six more houses under construction in South Vernon.
Welcome Home Ohio reimbursed the land bank for the first four houses it bought from Habitat for Humanity of Knox County.
Under the grant rules, the money flows through the land bank.
Habitat for Humanity and a local contractor build the houses. The land bank buys the houses from the builders, and then applies for reimbursement from Welcome Home Ohio.
The land bank then sells the homes to Habitat-vetted families.
“Three of the first four that we own should sell soon,” Filkins told the board.
Filkins said state officials reviewed the current projects.
“They’re very excited about them, hence the reason they gave us our $650,000 before we sold them,” he said. “And they’ve encouraged us to apply for Round 2.”
Filkins said construction on the six new houses is going well.
“The local home builder’s should be wrapped up soon. The Habitat ones actually should be wrapped up soon, too. We’re cranking down on that because we need to get them done by the end of May,” he said.
“The fact that we [received $650,000] from the state and put people in homes for cheap is amazing,” board chair Tyler Griffith said.
“The net positive of this is amazing for the land bank and for the families.”
Applying for Round 2 money
Filkins and Habitat for Humanity Knox County Executive Director Terry Shultz identified five sites for future projects.
Additionally, the board authorized Filkins to negotiate purchases of four condemned houses.
The Round 2 application, which is due Jan. 16, could include all nine projects.
However, there is now a scoring rubric for applications, which Filkins said is both good and bad.
“If you’ve gotten over $500,000 previously, it’s a negative; you don’t get as many points. Since we got $2.46 million [in Round 1], our scoring might not be as positive,” he said.
The good is the land bank’s track record. Board members concurred with Filkins’ recommendation to apply for the five sites the land bank already owns and hope those points counteract the fact the land bank previously received $2.46 million.
Founders Food Hall progressing nicely
Founders Food Hall passed its final inspections this week.
Filkins said there are some things contractors must fix, but it is all cosmetic work.
Once the final punch list is completed, vendors can start moving in equipment. The board accepted three vendor applications last month and on Thursday authorized Filkins to negotiate contracts with the remaining four.
“If everyone who has a lease in hand signs, then we will be full,” Filkins said.
Filkins anticipates the machines for duck pin bowling will arrive in early February.
The county commissioners withdrew their request for the land bank to facilitate the sale of 104 E. High St.
“We have decided to keep the property and utilize it for the Knox County Park District. They will occupy half of the building, and the county has an ongoing lease with the State of Ohio ODNR for the other half,” County Administrator Jason Booth said.
Miscellaneous land bank news:
•The board accepted applications for 2 Walnut St. and 608 Richard St. in Danville. Filkins declined to state a sale price pending signing of the contracts.
•Workers installed flag poles and signage at Heartland Commerce Park.
•Filkins is working on the annual audit report.
•The land bank closed out all CPDC accounts and transferred funds, expenses, and assets to the land bank.
•Board members decided to retain ownership of the building used as a maintenance facility. The POA will pay utilities since the building is used for park activities.