A house that was in the city’s land bank is being renovated, city commissioners heard this week. Jim Zaleski, city economic development director, told city commissioners the house at 1621 Chess has been a test case for the land bank. The house was acquired by the land bank and the board took proposals early this year from those interested in rehabbing the house. Zaleski said drywall is being installed inside and a new heat pump has been added outside. The land bank offers property owners the chance to donate lots, with or without buildings on them, so the land or buildings can be repurposed with the hope of improving the look of the city. This could include razing the homes or structures or having structures renovated if they can be fixed up. The land bank exists to get houses with delinquent property taxes back on the rolls as soon as possible, Zaleski said. The land bank board voted in January to award 1621 Chess to B.C. Construction/Bryan Stringer. Interest in the land bank continues as seven more properties have been cleared to bring to the land bank board to consider, he said. Zaleski also addressed recent concerns about the city using grant funding to renovate downtown Parsons instead of using that money on other streets in the city. The Kansas Department of Transportation will pay $583,142 for working on sidewalks and changing the parking angles between Central and 17th and the city’s portion will be $102,908 plus the cost of engineering and design work. “Our Main Street is the heart of our community,” Zaleski told commissioners. Some critics thought the money should have been directed to other city streets that needed the work more. Other cities that received these grants will use the grant to improve streets, critics noted.
Source: Parsons Sun
