Hoopeston Hears Land Bank Plan
Land Bank Update
January 6, 2016
HOOPESTON — Mike Marron, Vermilion County Board Chairman, and county board members Darren Duncan and Todd Johnson discussed the creation of a countywide land bank at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Marron said Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer and county board members are looking at exploring a land bank for Vermilion County modeled after the South Suburban Land Bank. The land bank would address blighted properties.
“Urban blight is a problem,” Duncan said. ” It’s (land bank) a tool to address this, a unique tool.”
The county board and Danville would put up the seed money to start, Marron said, about $80,000. He added no seed money would be requested from surrounding communities to begin.
The purpose of the discussion Tuesday was to check Hoopeston’s interest in joining a land bank once created. At present, the county board and Eisenhauer are speaking with a consultant with land bank experience.
There are only two land banks in Illinois, according to Marron, the South Suburban Land Bank and Cook County Land Bank.
Marron said an intergovernmental agreement would need to be signed if Hoopeston were interested and would receive one vote and veto on the Vermilion County Land Bank Board. Danville would have two and the county board would have three. Other communities interested would each have a vote and veto.
“It’s not, by any means, a fix-all,” Marron said, “and not every property can be rehabbed. Some won’t.” Adding, “It’s not a quick fix. It’s just one option.”
The next Hoopeston City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 19, at City Hall, 301 W. Main St.
Source: Commerical-News
