Strong Roots for an Even Stronger Future
The Mahoning County Land Bank was established at a time of tremendous need and opportunity.
In 2010, decades of job and population losses and the foreclosure crisis had left Mahoning County with thousands of forgotten, neglected, debt-laden parcels that had decreased neighboring property values and increased maintenance costs for cities, townships and villages.
Formally known as the Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corp., the Land Bank was created to help remediate the blight and vacancies by restoring and promoting sustainable land and neighborhoods.
For the past decade, the Land Bank has worked with local governments, community leaders, nonprofit organizations and neighbors to bring land, houses and buildings back to life. It has acquired distressed properties and cleared their titles, making them more attractive for new investors.
From 2012 to 2019, the Land Bank completed more than 1,400 demolitions through the Moving Ohio Forward demolition grant program funded by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Neighborhood Initiative Program demolition grant funded by the Ohio Housing Financing Agency. Partly as a result of these efforts, the number of vacant properties in Youngstown decreased from 3,927 in 2014 to 2,226 in 2018.
In recent years, the Land Bank has shifted its efforts from demolition work to revitalization projects, through residential and commercial rehabilitation, greening strategies and more.
Local communities are experiencing the favorable results of having fewer blighted, vacant properties.
“We’re reflecting on the past decade and are grateful for how far we’ve come,” said Debora Flora, executive director of Land Bank. “The partnerships we’ve established, the impact we’ve made in so many communities and the relationships we’ve gained through collaboration really add up to make our efforts worth every minute of our work.”
After completing nearly 1,500 demolitions and countless greening projects, along with restoring and putting nearly 100 formerly tax-delinquent homes back on the market during its first decade, the Land Bank is looking forward to the future.
A Commemoration of 10 Years
Join us in celebrating and reflecting upon the past decade by checking out our special edition items below.
10 Year Impact Report
This 16-page report highlights the results of the Land Bank’s efforts to leverage funding and community partnerships to restore vacant, blighted and tax-delinquent properties through acquisitions, demolitions, greening and landscaping practices.
Click here to view and/or download the report.
Community Partner Spotlight Series
The Land Bank’s Community Partner Spotlight video series shares stories of organizations and individuals in the Mahoning Valley who are restoring and repurposing vacant, abandoned properties acquired by the Land Bank.
Click here to read more and to view the first spotlight of our series, featuring the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.
Visit our YouTube channel to check out the latest spotlight videos.
Greening Guide: Greening Practices for Native Ecosystems
A complete guide for planting more than 90 native plant species is now available.
The Dirt: 10 Year Anniversary Special Edition
Click here to check out our recent special edition newsletter.