[Matt Sanctis, Springfield News-Sun]
Champaign County leaders are researching if it makes sense to start a land bank, part of a growing trend in which rural counties across Ohio are looking for ways to deal with a glut of vacant and abandoned properties.
The Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission is collecting data from Urbana and villages in Champaign County to determine how many abandoned properties are dotting the county, commissioner Director Dave Gulden said.
Counties can use land banks to access state funding to purchase, demolish and redevelop abandoned and blighted properties.