Decatur, DeKalb May Form Land Bank

The is scheduled to vote Monday night on whether to join with in forming the DeKalb Regional Land Bank.

The land bank would combat the negative effects of foreclosures, City Planner Amanda Thompson said in a memo. She said about 100,000 DeKalb properties have been foreclosed on since 2000. This is hurting the county tax digest, public safety and redevelopment of neighborhoods.

What is a land bank? A document on page 46 of the meeting agenda packet defines it this way:

A land bank is a legal and financial tool that serves to combat vacant, abandoned and underutilized properties that undermine the value and quality of neighborhoods. Land banks strategically intervene when publicly- or privately-owned land is not reclaimed or redeveloped into productive uses through regular market forces.

A land bank typically acquires properties through tax foreclosure proceedings and holds, manages and/or facilitates their reuse through sales and transfers to city agencies, community development corporations, private developers and adjacent property owners.

Under state law, the county must partner with a municipality to form a land bank. The commission would appoint two members to a board of directors.

Beyond staff time, the city doesn’t have to kick in any money at this time, Thompson said.

In other business, the commission is being asked to approve a $37,667, three-year contract with ePlus Group Inc. to lease 33 Apple Macbook computers for the Children and Youth Service’s afterschool program.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room in Decatur City Hall. A work session starts at 6:30 p.m. at which the commission will discuss changes to the alcoholic beverage ordinance.