News
State Deadline To Use Demolition Funds Extended
By: Lewis Wallace | Ohio Public Radio • WYSO
Posted on:
Ohio counties will have extra time to demolish and clean up thousands of vacant and nuisance properties. The attorney general’s office has extended a deadline to use up demolition grant funds.
The grant money, about $75 million statewide, has already paid for more than 10,000 demolitions.
But lots of counties and cities have struggled to use up that money and file all the paperwork – because of weather, lack of contractors, or a lack of preparation to start immediately doing demolitions.
Aaron Sorrell is with the city of Dayton department of community development.
"It’s not an issue that you can identify the property on Tuesday and begin to ameliorate the issue by the following Wednesday," Sorrell said.
Hamilton and Sandusky Counties were among those that asked for an extension of the May 31 deadline.
But this money will run out – it comes from a $25 billion, multi-state legal settlement with five big banks over mortgage fraud and abuse.
Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced he will extend the deadline to the end of September.