The town of Greenfield will auction off seven parcels of land to get them back on the tax roll.
Town administrator Aaron Patt said it has been at least five years since the town auctioned off parcels of land. The properties in question were all claimed by the town by tax collector’s deeds.
“The town is left with the tax delinquencies on these properties,” said Patt. “When taxes aren’t paid on a property, it has a huge impact on the town. It’s costly to everyone.”
The town auction will be held on Oct. 1 starting at 10 a.m. at the Greenfield Meetinghouse at 776 Forest Road, with registration beginning at 9 a.m.
Of the seven properties for sale, only one property has a minimum bid. The property, located on Cavender Road, is on tax map R3, lot 41 and has a minimum bid of $35,000.
Patt said the property had a minimum bid placed on it, as the town is trying to get a return on some of the legal and other fees accumulated after a legal battle with the former owner.
“The town is not trying to make any money off these properties,” said Patt. “This is a corrective step to ensure that the town’s taxation is equitable.”
The other six properties will be sold with no minimums or reserves.
The properties are located at tax map R3, lot 46 (County Road); tax map R4, lot 64 (Forest Road); tax map R6, lot 30-5 (Zephyr Lake); tax map R3, lot 47 (off Forest Road); tax map R6, lot 36 (off Cornwell Road); and tax map R4, lot 23-2 (Forest Road).
Patt said a previously listed property listed at tax map R4, lot 13 (Francestown Road) will not be sold as it was claimed via a quitclaim deed.
Patt said that all properties are being sold without covenance, meaning that there is no guarantees being made about the properties’ use or value.
Patt encourages interested parties in doing their due diligence in checking into the properties prior to purchasing them.
More information about the auction can be found at the town website, www.greenfield-nh.gov, by looking at the News and Announcements section, or at www.jsjauctions.com.
Properties can be previewed by setting up an appointment with the auctioneers, James R. St. Jean Auctioneers, at 734-4348.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.