Remove a blighted building
Empty, deserted, and open properties can hurt property values and be public hazards. Demolition is always a last resort, but it can produce a positive community outcome for the most distressed properties.
Where do I get help?
After years of efforts driven by the Land Bank, the City of Toledo and suburban communities have resumed oversight of demolition programs in their communities. If you are challenged with a nuisance building that may need to be demolished, please reach out to your local community to make sure they are aware. From time to time, the Land Bank will oversee demolition work, but usually in the context of a nuisance building that we already own.
Below you can find a history in reverse chronological order of our efforts with partners to remove nuisance buildings from our community.
2022 to 2026: Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program
The Ohio Department of Development's Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, enacted by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Governor DeWine in 2021 and then re-funded in 2023, provides $300 million statewide to demolish vacant and blighted buildings that challenge our communities. The Land Bank serves as the Program's project manager and fiscal agent.
On December 6, 2022, the Land Bank was awarded $10,359,200 under this Program in partnership with the City of Toledo and suburban Lucas County communities to remove over 970 dangerous buildings.
On August 7, 2024, the Land Bank was awarded an additional $9,610,706 under the Program to remove 24 medium-to-large scale dangerous buildings in partnership with public, non-profit, and private sector entities in Lucas County.
In total, over 1,000 buildings will be removed with a total investment of $26,293,210 when adding up the Ohio grants and local matching funds.
To learn more about this Program's work in Toledo, please visit the City of Toledo's website. You may report a blighted building through Engage Toledo.
2022 to 2024: Lucas County Commercial Site Clean-up Pilot Program
In 2021, the Ohio General Assembly authorized $2 million in 1:1 matching dollars that the Lucas County Land Bank will use to remove blighted commercial & industrial buildings in Lucas County. This effort, called the Lucas County Commercial Site Clean-up Pilot Program, is well underway with many public and private partners. Over $4 million of investment will be made in Lucas County with these funds.
2014 to 2021: OHFA Neighborhood Initiative Program
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency's Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP) funded the demolition of over 2,800 of the most-blighted properties in Toledo from 2014 to 2021, leveraging over $30,000,000 of federal, state, and local investment. Take a look at our OHFA NIP Final Report to learn more about how we strengthen our neighborhoods with this effort.
2012 to 2014: Moving Ohio Forward Program
The Ohio Attorney General's Moving Ohio Forward Program (MOF) funded over 800 nuisance demolition projects from 2012 to 2014 in partnership with the City of Toledo and suburban communities. Read more below about how this program made an impact in Lucas County and statewide