Blighted and abandoned properties in Delaware County could be transformed in 2023 into affordable housing, commercial development, and green space, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

The Delaware County Redevelopment Authority is voting on policies and procedures early in the new year for a new land bank.

A land bank is a municipal tool to combat blight by repurposing vacant, underutilized, tax-delinquent property.

Laura Cairns, Delaware County’s commerce director, hopes that turning blighted properties around will create new workforce and general housing.

“And then also, it allows us to sort of transition gray space from the commercial standpoint as well,” she said.

Winnie Branton, with the land development consulting firm Branton Strategies, is working with the county on abandoned “eyesore” properties.

“The land bank is a tool for acquiring that property, clearing it of its limbs and other encumbrances, and then preparing that property for transfer to a new owner who’s going to redevelop and rehab that property to meet the community’s needs and local codes and ordinances,” Branton said.

The goal is to reduce taxpayer costs from police visits, fires, and lack of tax revenue into a property that increases the value of surrounding properties and the community. 

Read more about Delaware County’s new land bank at WHYY.

Six things you should know about land banks.