The Village of New Boston is considering corrective action against 12 properties in the village, using part of a $1.2 million grant delivered to a multi-county region of the Ohio Stabilization Program from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The district includes Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, Lawrence and Scioto counties, and also the cities of Portsmouth and Ironton, and is identified as Region 21.

Vinton County is acting as the grantee for all of Region 21.

“We’re allocated $1.2 million, and we eight political jurisdictions have to come up with a plan how we’re going to spend that $1.2 million. How much here, and how much there; and you can imagine how difficult with that many different jurisdictions,” Ken Reed, of the Vinton County Commissioner’s Office, said.

Scioto County is tentatively allotted $210,000 of those funds, and county commissioners will distribute it among target areas in West Portsmouth and New Boston.

Part of the program is expected to include funding for demolition of blighted structures within the target areas. At the New Boston Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Village Administrator Steve Hamilton submitted a list of 12 properties being considered for corrective action or condemnation. Those properties are:

• 3747 Grace St., New Boston

• 4322 Pine St., New Boston

• 3864 Stanton Ave., New Boston

• 3818 Stanton Ave., New Boston

• 4126 Taft St., New Boston

• 4140 Taft St., New Boston

• 4148 Taft St., New Boston

• 4154 Taft St., New Boston

• 3753 1/2 Gallia St., New Boston

• 1317 Pennsylvania Ave., New Boston

• 4219 York St., New Boston

“Some of these properties have been sitting vacant for many, many years,” Hamilton said. “We have cut the grass at these houses, and from what I understood we have put it on their taxes. The doors are open; there’s been kids in and out of them; they’re dangerous and just nobody takes care of them.”

The NSP grant could possibly allow $10,000 per property, for demolition of blighted structures. Hamilton said the cost incurred would be passed on to the homeowner, on their local taxes.

The grant also could include a total of up to $10,000 for the acquisition of lots by Habitat for Humanity (HFH), and an additional $20,000 for HFH redevelopment financing. Hamilton said Habitat for Humanity wants to acquire and redevelop two properties. Also, $50,000 may be allocated in the grant for redevelopment financing for the Scioto County Domestic Violence Shelter to relocate its facility within the county. A spokesperson for the shelter said if they decide to relocate, they will be looking for a more handicap-accessible facility. She firmly stressed though, at this time they have not decided whether or not they will relocate.

The final details of the NSP grant are not yet available. A spokesperson from the Scioto County Commissioner’s office said Vinton County has to file the region’s final application by Feb. 27.