Akron renews programs to facilitate the sale of nearly 400 city-owned vacant lots

The Akron Planning Commission approved the renewal of Welcome Home Akron, Mow to Own and Summit Lake Lot Sale at its March 13 meeting. These property programs will help facilitate the sale of nearly 400 city-owned lots to builders, individuals or homeowners, depending on how the sales fit within each program’s rules.  

All three of these programs are meant to encourage the use of underutilized city-owned properties in existing neighborhoods — either for infill housing or to expand current homeowners’ properties, depending on the program — and lessening the city’s burden of maintaining these vacant lots.

What is the Welcome Home Akron program?

The Welcome Home Akron program sells vacant, city-owned lots to housing developers, homebuilders and individuals for new single-family, owner-occupied home construction. These lots are available throughout the city.

Construction on the lot must begin within six months of acquisition. Construction must then be completed within 18 months. Once completed, the owner must occupy the property for five years.

Homes must be built in compliance with current housing codes and The City of Akron Housing Standards: Single-Family Detached Homes and Two-Family Homes. Building standards should also be consistent in size, materials and appearance with adjacent homes. The final design, site plan and construction proposal must be approved by the Office of Integrated Development.

The program incentive includes a 15-year tax abatement on the new home.

What is the Summit Lake Lot Sale program?

The Summit Lake Lot Sale program has the same requirements as the Welcome Home Akron program, but the lots in this program are only available in the Summit Lake neighborhood.

What is the Mow to Own program?

The Mow to Own program offers adjacent property owners the chance to purchase city-owned vacant lots and expand their existing property. The lots available in the Mow to Own program are not large enough to build a new home on. Construction of buildings or parking lots on the property is prohibited.

Priority is given to owner-occupants who live next to the lot. If the adjacent owner is not interested or not eligible, the lot will be offered to the property owner on the rear side. Existing 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are a stakeholder within the boundaries that the property is located are also eligible.

Once an application is approved, the city will enter into a contract with the applicant that outlines the program requirements, proposed improvement timelines and maintenance plan.

Applicants for the Mow To Own program must reasonably maintain the property, which includes mowing and trimming the lot every two weeks, raking leaves, shoveling snow and picking up trash on the property.

Applicants may also improve the lot via landscaping, fencing, tree removal, gardening and other upgrades that benefit the neighborhood. Parking cars or storage of any kind on the lot is prohibited.

The Mow to Own program runs from May to November. Following a successful completion of the Mow to Own program in November, the property is then transferred to the applicant by January of the following year.

The deed for the lot will contain restrictions that will not allow the property to be resold for two years from the closing date without prior written approval from the city.

Where are the lots approved for each program?

A list of recently approved lots for each program was made available on pages 6-14 of the Planning Commission’s March 13 agenda. 

The new lots, as well as existing eligible lots, can also be viewed on this map, which includes programs managed by both the city and the Summit County Land Bank. 

To view the Welcome Home Akron, Summit Lake Lot Sale and Mow to Own properties:

• Click “Properties,” located at the top of the right hand menu
• Select “City of Akron – Mow to Own” and “City of Akron – Welcome Home.”

Each available property and more information about it, including the asking price, is available when you click on the property on the map. The information can also be downloaded as a spreadsheet.

How can you get more information or apply for a property?

Anyone interested in participating in one of these programs can submit an inquiry or apply for a specific property by going to the lot’s profile via the city’s online map. On each lot’s profile, there is an inquiry form on the right hand side of the screen. 

If you have a question, you’ll be asked to submit your contact information and a message. To apply for the property, click the “or fill out an application” link to start the process.

Questions can also be directed to the Office of Integrated Development at 330-375-2133. You can also find more information here on the city’s website.