Land bank pitches 14 workforce homes and $1 million park for Springfield’s Engaged Neighborhood

At an informal work session of the Springfield City Commission, the Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation presented an update on the Engaged Neighborhood infill project, outlining plans for workforce homeownership, a community park and related site work.

The land bank said it plans to build about 10 homes on West Grand/West Southern and four homes on East Liberty Street, and that applications are open. "We're looking to raise a million dollars, and we have a half a million raised so far," Cara Van Zant, development project manager for the Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation, told the commission about fundraising for a park on the former Euclid Elementary site.

Why it matters: the proposals would convert multiple vacant or previously demolished lots into homeownership opportunities targeted at renters seeking to buy, add a publicly accessible park along the bike path to Yellow Springs and return an industrial building to commercial use. The project is using American Rescue Plan Act funds for the first round of homes and proposes down-payment assistance to reduce buyer costs.

Most important details: The land bank described two clustered projects. The "Grand Project" on West Grand and West Southern envisions 10 infill homes built where five abandoned properties had been demolished. The Liberty Street site would have four permanently sited homes with garages and off-street parking. Van Zant said the Liberty Street homes are roughly 1,300 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths and that they are expected to list at about $160,000 to $170,000.

The land bank said it will offer down-payment assistance up to 20% and that first-round funding for the program comes from ARPA dollars. "It is ARPA dollars that we're using in this first round," Van Zant said. She added the program requires household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guideline; "a family of 4 at that max level is about $96,000 per year." Van Zant also said applicants must complete a HUD homeowner-education course before signing for a property: "We also will require, not before the application, but before the homeowner signs for the property, that they would be doing a homeowner, education course completed through HUD." She described the course as typically three hours if taken straight through or paced over multiple sessions and said local partners also offer in-person options.

The land bank said applications are four pages long and available now. Van Zant gave an email and phone contact for interest and assistance with affordability questions.

Park, reuse and site constraints: The presentation included conceptual park art and a plan to convert a former school lot adjacent to the bike path into a community park with ADA access, playground space and courts. The land bank said it has raised about $500,000 toward an estimated $1 million goal and is pursuing grants and community donations (the group is using a Givebutter page for donations).

Commission discussion flagged environmental and utility constraints. A commissioner noted some parcels are brownfield sites and said concrete was purposely left covering contaminated soil; the commissioner suggested exploring rooftop or ground-mounted solar on that concrete if brownfield grants are unavailable. The commissioner also said FirstEnergy had previously told the city there are limits on development near certain infrastructure. Ethan Harris, executive director of the Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation, said the land bank would "take a look at that" but cautioned he was not an electrical engineer and could not detail grid constraints while remaining "open to anything that lowers pricing for our residents."

City manager and next steps: The city manager told commissioners he would work with the land bank to post the presentation and contact information on the city website so residents can review details at home. No formal action or vote on the project was taken at the work session; the only recorded commission motion was to adjourn the meeting.

For people interested in applying or donating, the land bank asked that they contact Cara Van Zant at kvanzant@clarkcounty.ohio.gov or 937-521-2173.