Mansfield mayor proposes mow-to-own program

[The Straight Story]

Mansfield mayor proposes mow-to-own program

MANSFIELD (Ohio) -- Mayor Donald Culliver announced plans Tuesday to create a mow-to-own program.

Mansfield demolished dozens of dilapidated homes during the past couple of years, using federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to tear down many. But the city does not want to have to mow vacant lots indefinitely, the mayor said.

....

A mow-to-own program also would help get some abandoned properties back onto the tax rolls, Culliver added. The idea is similar to a plan announced this week in Sandusky.

Ownership could be transferred to people who mow nearby properties to keep their community looking neat, and to neighbors who wanted to own adjacent land but could not readily afford to buy it, he said.

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20110720/NEWS01/107200302/Mayor-proposes-mow-own?odyssey=nav|head

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I really like that idea.

[MineralMan]

2. Interesting idea. However, in St. Paul, MN, where I live,

vacant lots are pretty valuable, since the city is fully built-out. I doubt that they'll do that here, although the city does demolish houses that go abandoned for a certain period and would need extensive rehabilitation. Hell, I'd jump on a chance to get the lot next door, but I don't see that happening here.

[EC]

3. I can see whole neighborhoods fighting for pieces of land

with this...otherwise it could work...if they can keep neighborhood feuds and fights from happening.

[damntexdem]

4. Mow better blues.

Some Mansfield man's field has some deep grass. ;-)

[chalky]

5. Hopefully they'll come up with a program that will make sure the little guy with a pushmower

has as much of a chance at the property as the guy that can hire a crew to mow three lots in an hour.