The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
The City Council appears to be ready to sell vacant properties that have for years sat in its stalled Gem lot program.
On Tuesday, the council scheduled a June 30 public hearing about a measure that would allow city officials to begin negotiations to sell 12 lots in the program to adjacent landowners. The Gem program - the name is a description of the jewels the properties could become - hasn't disposed of a property since 2006.
From 2004 to late 2006, Norfolk seized more than 450 vacant, tax-delinquent lots through the Gem initiative. Under the program's initial purpose, the properties were to be sold to neighboring home-owners and developers in the hopes of putting the land back on the tax rolls.
But Norfolk sold only five buildable lots before shelving the program, despite continuing to accept applications from residents hoping to purchase the land. There is a backlog of more than 40 interested Gem lot buyers - many of whom have waited years for a response from the city.
Several city officials have said they hoped the program could work as a land-banking effort to aid in larger-scale development. Others, including Mayor Paul Fraim, have urged city management to sell the properties and get them on the tax rolls.
If all the property in the program were privately owned, Norfolk would reap about $50,000 in real estate tax revenues annually.
The properties under consideration June 30 are scattered across the city, from Park Place to Chesterfield Heights. All 12 are too small to be used for new development. They will go to neighbors looking to expand their side yards, create gardens or build driveways.
If the council moves forward to sell the Gem properties, prices will be negotiated.
More than a year ago, an internal committee recommended the city sell undersized and unbuildable Gem properties for half their assessed value. The committee argued that many people could not afford $10,000 or $15,000 for a side yard, and that the tax revenues would be a greater asset in the long run.
Deputy City Manager Stanley Stein said Tuesday that city officials are still working out details about the sales price for each lot.
Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com
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That's a start.
Now let's get all the local cities to sell any and all land the city owns that does NOT have a PUBLIC building sitting on it. The cities have NO business owning land other than that needed for public use. It's time for government on ALL levels (city/state/federal) to get back to their core functions and get out of business, development, investments and most of all charity. If the government returns to the core infrastructure functions and leave the rest to the private sector we would be able to keep more of our hard earned paychecks ourselves. That would maybe give us the means to invest in business or develop some property or support a worthy charity of our own choosing.
Wow, imagine that...
Wow, imagine that... it only took a newspaper article and an uproar from the citizens of Norfolk to spur the Council into action. Way to go!
A win, win, and win situation!
Why does it take the city years to decide to sell 1/2 of a lot to the adjouning property owner? It is a no-brainer! #1 - It immediately puts a little piece of real estate on the tax roles; #2 - Creates a perpetual tax stream. #3 - Taxpayers no longer have to pay to maintain the piece of ground.