The man who buys an entire street for $5,000 without realizing it and now they are trying to expropriate him: “They left me out”

Jason Fauntleroy wanted to build a home in the small town of Trenton, so he purchased a plot of land for $5,000 (about 5,000 euros at the current exchange rate) at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction in 2021.

Little did he know, what he had bought was the entire Bloomfield Court street, where his house was located. Three years later, the city began the process of reclaiming the street through eminent domain. According to Ohio law, property owners whose properties are being confiscated under this legal mechanism are entitled to “just compensation” for their loss, meaning the fair market value of the property.

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In an interview with local media WCPO News, Fauntleroy stated that the city was trying to scam him since they only considered the value of his lot, leaving out the rest of the land. Marco Nichols, the city manager of Trenton, told the same outlet that the city couldn’t comment on the results of the appraisal and wasn’t sure why Fauntleroy was allowed to buy an entire street in the first place.

“I was left out,” Fauntleroy told WCPO. “They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even contact anyone.”

The strange case of Fauntleroy’s purchase

The auction was particularly strange because Fauntleroy’s street is not empty; there are a total of five properties on it. Since it’s private property, Fauntleroy is responsible for maintaining it for all the property owners. Fauntleroy doesn’t seem to have an issue with the city’s intention to turn the private road into a public one to maintain the street and facilitate the expropriation, he just wants what’s owed to him. “Treat people fairly; work honestly,” Fauntleroy said.

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Ohio has a long history with eminent domain issues, and Fauntleroy’s battle is not unique. As noted by MoneyWise, in the case City of Norwood v. Horney, for example, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against the city, arguing the importance of protecting property rights.