The Clear Title Project

One major obstacle to the revitalization of urban neighborhoods is title defects on abandoned properties. When, for example, a property has a defaulted mortgage and the lender has never foreclosed, the property cannot be developed until the mortgage has been released. Other title defects include: lien and heirship issues. There are over 150 properties in the Ivanhoe and Blue Hills neighborhoods owned by the Land Bank that have title defects that keep the properties from being developed. In the Quiet Title Project, NLS will work closely with neighborhood leaders in Ivanhoe and Blue Hills, neighborhood residents and others to identify properties with title defects that are holding back development. NLS will clear the title on these properties, thereby empowering neighborhood revitalization efforts to move forward.