Jason Fauntleroy said the city only assessed his lot when it calculated his payout, rather than assessing the entire street. An Ohio man is fighting to keep the street he accidentally bought, claiming the city is trying to take it back by force and won’t return his calls.
![[Jason Fauntleroy accidentaly purchased this entire street for just $5,000]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/16/newFile-20.jpg)
Jason Fauntleroy wanted to build himself a home on a lot in Trenton — which is just north of Cincinnati and southeast of Dayton — so purchased what he believed to be a plot of land for $5,000 from a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction in 2021.
In reality, he had actually purchased the entire street of Bloomfield Court. Three years later, the city began the process of reclaiming the street through the use of eminent domain. Under Ohio state law, owners whose properties are being taken by eminent domain are entitled to “just compensation” for their loss.
The term “just compensation,” according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, is defined as the “fair market value” of a piece of property. While Fauntleroy is absolutely legally entitled to be paid for his street, he believes the city is trying to stiff him.
Fauntleroy tried to bring the alleged oversight to the city’s attention, but claims the city is dodging him. “They shut me out,” Fauntleroy told WCPO. “They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even get through anybody.”. Marco Nichols, Trenton’s City Manager, told the broadcaster that the city could not comment on the findings of the assessment.
