Anyone had succuss acquiring county right-of-way next to their property?

My property and the three houses beside me all back up to what was supposed to be a road. Due to massive water flow during any rain storm, building a road there pointless. It is also unnecessary, as traffic has no reason to flow behind the properties. In short, the county is never going to use it. They also don't maintain it.

So I'm thinking of seeing if the county will sell me the 25' wide strip of land behind my house that matches up to my property lines. Actually, all four houses on the street want to do it. We already maintain the land, but that doesn't take much since it is woods. I just want a buffer in case the guy behind me with a big lot ever decides to sell and go condo (which he as ever right to do, I just want first crack at the land).

I'm sure someone here has pulled this off.

My brother ended up getting abandoned right of way after the county (state?) built a shiny new traffic circle and was clearly never going to need it.  If I remember correctly, the cost was nominal, since it was worth nothing to anyone but my brother.

I think that he may have mentioned that, if it was his, he would maintain it.  If it wasn't his, he would be calling them every couple of weeks when the grass needed to be cut so it didn't become a fire hazard.

CJ (FS) said:

My brother ended up getting abandoned right of way after the county (state?) built a shiny new traffic circle and was clearly never going to need it.  If I remember correctly, the cost was nominal, since it was worth nothing to anyone but my brother.

I think that he may have mentioned that, if it was his, he would maintain it.  If it wasn't his, he would be calling them every couple of weeks when the grass needed to be cut so it didn't become a fire hazard.

Anyone else read this and get excited about his brothers new private skidpad?

Actually was behind his rental house and ended up becoming parking for the cannabis shop when he sold it.

"No, I will not rent the house for a pot shop."  "Want to buy it?"

Here, in my part of Ohio I would take that idea to The County Land Bank.  Their core mission is to generate taxable income off properties that do not generate taxable income.  I am making the assumption that if you owned this little more property then you would be charged an annual property tax for this properties value.  

So, your angle here is the property is currently a liability to the municipality or at least a non-revenue generator and you would like to turn the property into a revenue generator for them.  With that said, try not to even pay for the property but rather commit to the annual property tax payments.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Bingo!

That's what I was looking for! I just emailed my county commissioner asking for a contact at our local land bank. We'll see how it goes from there. I like your pitch about making it taxable income, I have no problem paying taxes on it.

I did and it was free except for the time it took.

I came here because I thought I read succubus

and the traffic circle is just not big enough for a skidpad.  I tried

Any underground or above ground utilities known on the right of way? You may still be able to get the property but they may want an easement that may limit if you can build on it. If you just want green space offer up an easement if they are waffling.