GLBA Board Meeting Recap — August 21, 2024

At their regular meeting on Wednesday, the Gadsden Land Bank Authority (GLBA) board took action on several properties, including voting to begin the process of helping one resident reclaim their home after a series of unfortunate events led to their losing ownership of the property and its acquisition by the State of Alabama.

It is deliberate actions like this that residents can expect from the GLBA moving forward. The GLBA board also took a vested interest in applicants who attended the meeting, taking the opportunity to receive feedback from them at the end of the meeting about their applications and previous iterations of the GLBA's policies, procedures, and practices.

In total, the GLBA board addressed a rare volume of 92 applications, including 75 applications that had been discovered by GLBA staff as having been submitted before the current administration's taking office at the City of Gadsden and the GLBA. In summary, the board denied 86 applications for misalignment with the GLBA's pricing, policies, and/or procedures; conditionally approved 4 applications; and tabled 2 applications. Each applicant will receive a letter from GLBA explaining the actions taken by the board on their application.

The GLBA is a multifaceted organization that navigates a complex legal system to acquire and redevelop properties that had been previously vacated or rejected by the private market. New leadership has recently re-energized the GLBA which is once again focused on its mission to make lasting change for our city, one property at a time. 

The goal, according to GLBA board member Grover Kitchens is to get these properties back into the hands of Gadsden residents, and in turn, back on the tax roll and in productive use. 

“We are here to work,” said board member Ruth Moffatt. “First and foremost, our priority is working to ensure the proper care and consideration is given to each one of these cases.” 

In other business, the GLBA board:

• Authorized staff to begin the quiet title process on 4 high-interest properties the GLBA currently has Tax Deeds to

• Accepted plans submitted by the Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity to construct a Re-Store and offices on a conditionally approved vacant commercial lot in Alabama City 

• Discussed the need for a non-refundable application fee and deposit policy to be considered at a future board meeting, as is standard practice with most land bank authorities

• Tentatively set the next meeting for October 16, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 305 at Gadsden City Hall

The Gadsden Land Bank Authority is one of four in the State of Alabama and is supported by city employees assigned to assist the GLBA in addition to their other full-time responsibilities. 

Questions about the land bank? Visit gadsdenlandbank.org or email glba@cityofgadsden.com.