WOWT News

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Since 2014, the Omaha Municipal Land Bank has worked to transform distressed vacant properties into productive spaces.

That mission has been challenging — the land bank has to deal with back taxes, demolition liens and weed and litter cleanup. That can make buying the properties pricey.

Executive Director Leslie Smith has been on the job less than a month, but she’s already hit the ground running.

“Based on our strategic plan we need to get out into the community,” Smith said. “We need to be more transparent. We need to align with existing efforts.”