I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I bought an entire street for $5000… but then the nightmare began
An Ohio man is fighting to save a street he accidentally bought for $5,000 because he claims the city is trying to take it away.
Jason Fauntleroy won a vacant lot in Trenton for about $5,000 at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction four years ago.
Remarkably, he walked away from the auction with ownership of the entire street and his lot, even though the street also contained five other homes.
According to WCPOthe city began reclaiming the land he had purchased through eminent domain.
Fauntleroy told the outlet he has had a “nightmare” with the city of Trenton over the land.
He has claimed he is not being offered what he deserves for it, with only the plot of land he originally planned to buy – instead of the entire street.
Jason Fauntleroy won a vacant lot in Trenton for about $5,000 at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction four years ago
Remarkably, he walked away from the auction with ownership of the entire street and his lot
Fauntleroy told the outlet, “They locked me out. They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even get through to someone.”
Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols said this was a result of Fauntleroy’s behavior and conversations on the street.
Nichols told the outlet that it was also not entirely clear how he ended up owning the entire street.
He said, “I’m not sure how that happened other than it was a private ride arranged through a homeowners association.
“The homeowners association was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of that property.”
Nichols said the goal was to convert the private driveway into a public road so the city would then be responsible for maintaining it.
The map above shows in blue exactly what land Fauntleroy owns, which is essentially a large driveway
He has claimed he is not getting what he deserves in return, with only the plot of land he originally planned to buy, seen here
When asked by the outlet why only the lot was appraised and not the street, Nichols said, “I cannot say anything about the appraised value.’
Fauntleroy added: “Treat people fairly, do honest work. Don’t just take advantage of someone because they don’t have the resources to get a lawyer.”
Under Ohio law, owners whose properties are seized by eminent domain are owed “just compensation.”
This is determined to be the fair market value of the property.