Cleaning up the city has been a key part of Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight’s platform. To rehabilitate abandoned properties the Lot Next Door Program and the Hopkinsville & Christian County Land Bank Authority have joined forces and City Public Information Officer, Amanda Brunt shared how they work together.
Lot Next Door Program Director, Tyechia Walton appeared at a recent Committee of the Whole meeting to explain how the program works. Beyond cleaning up vacant lots, Walton says the program serves to put them back into productive use, help the city generate taxes on the property and heighten public safety.
If a property owner is neighboring a vacant lot, then they can apply to gain ownership of the lot with plans of cleaning up the property. After receiving an application, Walton says she assesses the property to find if there are any back taxes or liens. Then the Land Bank Authority is able to remove any back taxes and liens so the property can be transferred.
Holly Boggess from Community and Development Services is over the authority and she recently appeared on the “Here in Hoptown” Podcast to explain how the organization works. Beyond cleaning up the city, Boggess says the authority serves to address a need by providing spacing for affordable housing and helping the city collect more taxes which can be put toward community projects.
Concerning the need for affordable housing, the authority recently announced that properties 1408 through 1414 on College Street was sold to WB Properties and construction is already underway for a 4-unit multi-family residential dwelling.
During fiscal year 2023-2024 Brunt shared that Hopkinsville spent more than $206,000 on abatement for abandoned and neglected properties. The program and the authority’s work serve to decrease those costs.
More information about both agencies is available on hopkinsvilleky.us.
Photo courtesy of the Hopkinsville & Christian County Land Bank Authority