Politics & Government

Daleford Couple Expands Yard With $200 Property Buy

Shaker Heights Adjacent Side Lot Program allows homeowners to buy vacant, city-owned lots in their neighborhood for a steal

By Megan Earle

Megan Earle is a college student studying journalism. This story appears through PatchU, a Patch program whose mission is to create opportunities for students to garner hands-on news experience.

A Daleford Road couple can start landscaping their newly owned 6,265 square foot lot after Shaker Heights City Council approved its $200 sale Monday.                 

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Sales like these may sound like the city giving away valuable property — this property was appraised at $18,600 — but city officials said the Adjacent Side Lot Program allows homeowners to lift the burden of maintaining vacant lots that the city would likely not profit on for decades.

Like this couple, homeowners in Shaker Heights can apply for the 54 vacant city-owned lots that are adjacent to their homes through the Side Lot Program.

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Back in May of 2008, the Side Lot Program was adopted to make the city-owned lots available for purchase by adjacent neighbors. Many of these lots are available due to foreclosure where the city had first picks on purchasing before the public. This program encourages owners to purchase the lots, make capital improvements and ultimately improve the tax value of the lot.

City councilwoman Nancy Moore explained that most of the vacant lots the city owns are offered to neighbors, practically free of charge and taxes. Moore said the city spends roughly $1,800 on each property yearly to maintain and care for it. Selling the vacant lots reduces the city’s cost, increases tax base, and improves the green space of the city. She said that it is a “win, win, win” when the city can sell the vacant lots to adjacent neighbors.

Moore said the housing market is not back up yet, and the population of Shaker Heights is not the same today as it once was. These vacant lots are not needed for building housing currently, so instead they are being used as side yards, like at the Daleford Road couple's home. Moore said the couple has “great plans” to landscape their new lot with a patio.

Moore said acquiring a vacant lot will de-densify the community, creating an improvement in space.

The vacant lots are available at a first-quality, first-served basis to adjacent neighbors based on their applications. To find out more about a vacant lot near you, contact the Neighborhood Revitalization Department at (216) 491-1370.


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