Shelby County Land Bank reports slight revenue dip, 38 demolitions and new online bidding; commission approves parcel sales and a short contract extension

Shelby County’s Land Bank presented its annual report to the Core City Neighborhoods and Housing Committee, summarizing inventory, sales activity, maintenance costs and new procedures intended to speed dispositions and remediation.

Esther Sykes Wood, land bank administrator, told commissioners the land bank acquired fewer delinquent-tax properties than in earlier years but reported higher average sale prices per parcel (average sale price about $6,838 in FY2025). The office recorded 38 demolitions, 54 board-and-secures, more than 11,000 service tickets on delinquent-tax properties, and over 25 community events during the fiscal year. Sykes Wood said the land bank revised sales procedures, implemented a reversion-review process tied to neighborhood conservation contracts and added online bidding with a public computer in its lobby to accept…