Columbus Consolidated Government
Land Bank Authority
Board Meeting Minutes
October 2, 2013
10:00 a.m.
A meeting of the Land Bank Authority Board was held on October 2, 2013 in the
Deputy City Manager?s Conference Room, CCG Annex Building 2nd Floor.
Members Present: Justin Krieg Lance Hemmings
Thomas Gristina Steve Anthony
Tammy Mayer
Absent: Carson Cummings Susan Cooper
Also Present: Deborah Meadows Amy Carbajal
Ben Link (guest of Tammy Mayer)
Call to Order/Establish Quorum
Board Chair Justin Krieg called the meeting to order. A quorum was present.
Approval of Minutes September 2013
Board Member Lance Hemmings made a motion to approve the September 2013 Minutes
as presented. Board Member Thomas Gristina seconded the motion. The motion
passed.
5836 Pratt Avenue
There have been 2 offers on the property one for $25,000 and one for $30,125.
Neither one of the perspective owners met the citizenship/immigration
qualifications. However, Claire Berry of Kelly Williams Realty said she has
shown the property 2 times this week.
East Highlands Properties
The Land Bank Authority owns 6 properties in East Highlands. Three of the
locations that are behind Haanan School need to be taken to the Muscogee County
School District Board for transfer approval. Board Member Lance Hemmings is
waiting to receive the property maps/plats for these properties to give to the
school Principal to move forward with the project. Board Chair Justin Krieg
said we need to start developing a plan for East Highlands.
A discussion ensued on making a decision as to what to do with the remaining
properties in East Highlands. Habitat for Humanity is building in the area. The
Land Bank could sell them to Habitat for Humanity, but at a much lower price
than what the open real estate market may bring. Board Chair Justin Krieg said
he will get in touch with Brinkley at Habitat for Humanity.
Land Bank Authority Board Meeting
October 2, 2013
Page 2
An idea was put to the Board about partnering with a non-profit agency, or
organization who build homes in the areas of the City most needing
revitalization efforts, to put people into homes and get the properties back
into generating tax revenue again.
MidTown was mentioned as one of the organizations that would like to partner
with the City and have the City become involved with redevelopment in East
Highlands. MidTown is focusing their efforts within the East Highlands
neighborhoods specifically, Talbotton to 16th to 21st Street, South.
With that area in mind, Amy Carbajal has sent another request to the Tax
Assessor?s office directly to David Britt requesting a list of tax delinquent
properties in that area.
Board Chair Justin Krieg asked the Board to keep in mind that the primary
objective of the Land Bank Authority is to facilitate property transfers and/or
sales to non-profits, organizations, agencies and developers to restore the
property back to an active tax revenue status, while improving the
neighborhoods in need within the City. There are various avenues open to reach
that goal.
Urban Agriculture
Board Member Tammy Mayer brought a guest to the meeting, Ben Link. Mr. Link
spoke to the Board about the concept of Urban Agriculture and the possible
positive affects it could have on a community. He is interested in helping to
create a sustainable farming network within the City of Columbus and looking
for blighted areas that have a need to grow food and feed the community in
those areas within the City. Land Bank Authority vacant lots he felt, could
possibly be used for Urban Agriculture. He said Atlanta has developed an Urban
Agriculture area and it?s working well for them.
The idea is to have small micro farms, which are intensely managed by someone
with knowledge of how to manage the land. He also stated it?s very easy to find
farmers willing to come into the City to farm.
Board Chair Justin Krieg noted that most of the Land Bank Authority properties
are small lots either with or without a structure and for the most part,
without vacant land around it. In addition, at a point in time, the goal is to
have a home again on the properties to generate low-income housing and tax
revenue for the City.
Mr. Link was asked to do some in-depth research and see how many other
communities with Land Bank?s have done anything like this and how well it
worked out with the mission of the Land Bank Authority. Mr. Link said he would
follow up on that request.
Land Bank Authority Board Meeting
October 2, 2013
Page 3
Financial Update
The balance in the Land Bank Authority budget is $23,810.16. There are no
outstanding payments.
Old/New Business
? Land Bank Authority Progress
Board Chair Justin Krieg said he feels the Land Bank Authority is at somewhat
of a standstill right now, i.e., the Pratt Avenue property, the East Highlands
properties and in particular, the resistance of the Tax Assessor to cooperate
with the Land Bank by providing the delinquent tax lists requested over and
over again. Justin said he would like to try again to have Lula Huff the Tax
Assessor or David Britt from her office come to the next Board Meeting. Amy
Carbajal said she will try to get one of them to attend the next Land Bank
Board meeting in November.
Justin concluded by commenting that we need to move forward and think of ways
to be more productive in our efforts.
The next Land Bank Authority Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, November 6,
2013 at 10:00 a.m., in the Deputy City Manager?s Conference Room, Annex
Building, 2nd floor.
Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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