FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The City of Fairmont is now accepting applications from the public to purchase excess real property within city limits.

Throughout the execution of the City’s demolition program, it has accumulated excess property for which the City has no use. In an effort to make the disposal of this property equitable and fair, the City formed a committee and created an application and review process to ensure that the property is returned to productive use.

“When the committee built out this process, we wanted to make sure the end result was an application that was easy to fill out and a process that was easy to navigate,” Director of Planning & Development Shae Strait said. “Allowing this property to return to the tax rolls and return to productive use is the best-case scenario for the City and for our residents.”

The application asks a series of questions regarding the applicant's history with the City’s Code Enforcement Department, outstanding fees or liens, the intended use of the property, total budget and an initial purchase offer amount.

The Planning & Development Department has also published an interactive map that highlights all the City-owned properties that are available to be purchased through this process. At the launch of this project, there are around 50 properties that the City wishes to shed through disposition.

“We wanted to make sure this process was accessible. You don’t have to be a seasoned developer to attain one of these properties,” said City Councilmember Rebecca Moran. “If you buy one piece of property and build one house on it, you’re making a difference here.”

More information about the process, as well as a link to the interactive map and the application, is available on the City’s website at www.fairmontwv.gov/505