First big tax auction in Norfolk rescheduled

NORFOLK

Officials in the city treasurer's office have pushed back the date of Norfolk's first large-scale tax auction to allow more time for the auctioneer to market the properties up for sale.

The auction will now be at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at the city's Workforce Development Center, 201 E. Little Creek Road.

A public information session will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, the original date of the auction, at the c enter. There, residents and investors can learn how Norfolk's new auction process will work.

The city changed its methods for dealing with tax-delinquent land after a Virginian-Pilot investigation last year found that Norfolk had a backlog of overdue properties. Since then, changes have netted the city more than $1 million more in tax revenue than Norfolk collected the previous year.

The city originally put 22 properties on its list for the January auction, but owners have rescued five properties by paying their bills.

Deputy Treasurer Carl Cox said officials expect several other owners to come forward before Jan. 20.

The city now has 16 homes and one vacant lot up for auction. The properties range from a two-bedroom condo in Denby Park to a $360,000 house in Stonebridge.

A second auction this year will likely feature a greater mix of properties, Cox said.