OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Omaha Municipal Land Bank (OMLB) is sponsoring a Vacant Lot Giveaway--giving applicants a chance to win a lot and $5,000 in redevelopment funds.
While community members have plenty of ideas on how to transform vacant properties, not everyone can afford to purchase and develop a lot. OMLB hopes to break this barrier by sponsoring the giveaway.
Applicants can pick from one of nine eligible lots and must submit a detailed redevelopment plan, including the community benefit of the project, a timeline and their long-term maintenance plan.
The scoring system puts an emphasis on community benefit, ensuring the changes would suit the neighborhood well. Applicants with the highest scores will be compared and three winners will be selected.
“Vacant lots stay in our inventory much longer than anything else,” said Land Bank Executive Director Marty Barnhart. “We hoped this giveaway would inspire people to see the opportunity in the other lots we have for sale, and we’ve already seen that happen.”
OMLB has been acquiring dilapidated structures and vacant lots across the city since 2016 in order to clear their titles and return them to safe, productive use.
Interested applicants are asked to reach out to Laura Heilman, Communications Director of Land Bank, at laurah@omb.org or call 402-800-1238 with questions.
Applications are due by May 27, 2019.
For more details, visit this website.
