Fort Wayne Seeking Blighted Property Sellers

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe city of Fort Wayne says it intends to buy as many as 88 properties as part of an ongoing blight elimination program. City officials say the effort is in the "home stretch" and is urging owners of vacant properties considering a sale to come forward.
The city plans to acquire the properties and schedule them for demolition. To date, the city says it has purchased and taken down, or is in the process of demolition, 227 properties.
Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services Director Heather Presley-Cowen says "we are in the home stretch of the Blight Elimination Program and are looking to purchase up to 88 properties that have a blighting influence on the homes that surround them. This is the next step in the process; through collaboration with the Allen County Community Development Corporation, we have been able to purchase many homes that have come through the tax-sale process and meet the criteria. Now we are reaching out directly to property owners to say if you have a property that has long been vacant and has a hole in the roof, failing foundation or believe it may fit the program for other reasons, now is the time to come forward."
Last year, Fort Wayne was awarded approximately $7.5 million for blight elimination and potential redevelopment.