The City of Xenia is considering starting a “mow to own” program as part of an effort to reduce the number of vacant or unused city-owned properties and get them into the hands of private owners, said Sandy Fackler, the city’s management analyst.

The city received most of the properties because of delinquent property taxes through the the Greene County Treasurer’s foreclosure process.

“If they would had gone to the state, the state would not have maintained them. The weeds would have grown sky high,” Fackler said. “If we got the property, we could do something with them and sell them and make them productive.”

A mow-to-own program similar to one used in Columbus would allow the adjacent property owners to take ownership of a vacant lot after that property owner maintains the property during an 18 or 24 month time period. The city is planning a work session to discuss the proposed program next month.

“We can get the property into the hands of someone who will maintain it — someone who will mow it and pay the taxes,” she said. “If they get rid of the blight, it helps the neighborhood.”

The city currently maintains about a dozen such properties, mowing the grass and performing other routine maintenance.

That number includes eight properties the city attempted to sell in August during a competitive process with minimum bids ranging from $175 to $400 per lot.

Only one of the properties, 476 East Market St., received a bid. Council will vote on the sale of that property when it meets Thursday.

Fackler expects to soon take ownership of eight more properties — including a vacant lot with an $38,000 opening bid on the sheriff’s foreclosure list because of delinquent property taxes going back to 1997.

City Engineer Christopher Berger said getting the properties into the hands of new owners will reduce city costs, but that is not the main purpose.

“I don’t think cost is the driving force,” he said. “Why hold on to something that we don’t need? Why put any resources into it?”

The city currently is accepting bids for two properties — a four-room house at 29 E. Church St. acquired as a result of a drug case and appraised at $27,060 and a vacant lot on South Galloway Street appraised at $38,800.

The starting bid for the house is $7,500. It is $933.50 for the lot — a former site of the city’s service center.

Fackler said opening bids were based on $5 per square foot of frontage.

She said the city is willing to negotiate with those willing to buy the properties previously placed for bid.

The properties are located next to 842 E. Main St., 900 E. Church St., 449 E. Second St., and 217 Park; adjacent to 455 E. Second St.; and at the corner of East Church and North Patton streets.

Fackler said the goal is to find new uses for the properties — as the site of new homes, community gardens or private playgrounds.

“It increases the value of the neighborhoods. The neighborhood’s property goes up in value,” she said.