Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney
The Chillicothe & Ross County Land Bank is seeking candidate properties to be tested and possibly cleaned up for ground pollution, and will be helping Community Action with their weatherization program and possible further development of their site.
The Ross County Land Reutilization Corporation, better known as the Chillicothe and Ross County “Land Bank,” had its bimonthly meeting on Monday, November 17th, 2025, with the Ross County Commissioners.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney, chair of the Land Bank, explained the two major action items; hear him in his own words below.
The various members of the Land Bank meet in the chamber of the Ross County Commissioners.
He said the Land Bank will make an application to the state by December 5th for a $1M set-aside for brownfield testing and remediation. “Brownfields” are sites with moderate pollution, like old gas stations with leaking underground tanks or spilled motor oil.
Feeney said the Land Bank is seeking eligible properties to get testing for ground contamination, and then possible cleanup. The Land Bank has to return any of the $1M grant that isn’t used, so they are anxious to put the funds to good use.
The Land Bank is also working with Ross County Community Action. They are a nonprofit with several assistance programs, including weatherization to help make homes energy efficient and affordable. Community Action is acting on behalf of the city and the Land Bank to do that with ARPA (Covid-era American Rescue Plan) funds.
Feeney said the city city helped Community Action buy the former Eastern Avenue Lumber property to use as their Community Center, including the community homeless shelter that was opened in the winter of 2023-2024.
He said the Land Bank helped demolish some buildings on the large site, and their new agreement may help plan for the future of property, including further possible development. Feenney said they have much acreage there that could be used for “tiny homes” and more.
You can watch the Land Bank meeting in the commissioners’ YouTube video, starting at 1:07.
The Land Bank works to clean up (or inspire cleanup) of any property in Chillicothe and Ross County. Their next meeting will be in two months, on January 12th. Learn more in the Land Bank page of the city’s website, and contact Tricia Hall or the Mayor’s office. Properties that they have for sale are listed online.
Ross County Community Action has a website and Facebook page, and can be reached at 740 / 702-7222 or in-person 8am to 4pm at 250 Woodbridge Avenue in Chillicothe.
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Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.