Behind some weeds and tall grass sits a vacant home on Sylvia Lane in Boardman.
"This is costing the home owners on this street probably from somewhere between $10,000 to $15,000 on the value of each one of these homes," said Jim Pirko of the Mahoning Valley Real Estate Investors Association.
"But when we see homes like this, dilapidating before our eyes, an eye sore everyday. We are reaching out for help," said resident Mary Elaine Fitas.
Help that the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative's Vacant Property Organizing Campaign hopes to offer by establishing a land bank in Mahoning County, which will reclaim vacant properties. But the group needs a new treasurer to take office for the land bank to take effect.
"The treasurer supplies the operating funding for the land bank, the treasurer also manages the land bank through a board of directors," said Deb Flora, executive director of Lien Forward Ohio.
Three candidates are up for the position in Mahoning County, which was vacated last month when Lisa Antonini resigned. The Democratic party is set to appoint a new treasurer on Monday from among interim treasurer Dan Yemma, former State Rep. and governor's aid Ken Carano and certified public accountant Paul Canter.
"We would like to hear their public support of the land bank or a public statement that lets us know where they stand on the land bank," said Chris Travers of the Vacant Property Organizing Campaign.
Members of the organization set July 1 as the launch date for the land bank and hope whoever fills the treasurer's position will adhere to that and enter the office willing to make this a top priority.
"Do something, something to satisfy the neighborhood and bring prices of our homes back up," Fitas said.
