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When Buying a Lot, Jason Fauntleroy Became Owner of an Entire Street — And the City Wants to Condemn
In 2021, at an auction held by the Butler County sheriff in Trenton, Ohio, Jason Fauntleroy believed he had acquired a simple empty lot for about US$ 5,000 — around R$ 25 thousand — with the dream of building his house.
To his surprise, the property also included the entire Bloomfield Court, a private street with five residences, which unexpectedly became his property.
In other words, there was no fraud; the city sold the land believing it was smaller than it actually was, but in reality, it sold the whole street to a single owner.
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Since then, his dream has turned into a legal battle.
With the legal possession of Bloomfield Court, Jason has taken on all maintenance responsibilities, such as mowing the lawn, repairs, and cleaning.
Eminent Domain Process: The City Steps In
In October 2024, the city of Trenton initiated an eminent domain process, claiming the need to convert the private street into a public road to ensure access and standardize maintenance.
However, what made this case even more sensitive was precisely the amount offered to Fauntleroy.
The assessment presented by the city included only the value of the lot where he intended to build his house — and did not consider the street itself, which is a substantial part of the land purchased.
Jason stated that he is being “ignored” by the municipal authorities:
“They left me out… blocked my phone calls. It’s hard to even talk to someone”
Fair Value: What Ohio Law Says
Under Ohio law, in cases of eminent domain, the property owner is entitled to “just compensation”, which must reflect the full market value of the voluntarily confiscated land.
Experts refer to previous decisions, such as in the case City of Norwood v. Horney (2006), when the Ohio Supreme Court stated that merely economic benefit does not constitute sufficient public use, and that the city must respect individual property rights.
Although the city claims a lack of clarity regarding how Jason acquired the street — pointing out that it originally belonged to a homeowners association —, the practical reality is that Fauntleroy holds the title to the land and must be respected.
The Current Status (July 2025)
- Legal Ownership: Jason remains officially the owner of Bloomfield Court until the eminent domain process is concluded.
- Pending Assessment: the city has not yet adjusted the offered amount, maintaining the initial proposal limited to the lot, without considering the street.
- Trends — Progressive in Rights: public concern is growing over respect for property rights, with experts emphasizing that if the city insists on paying less than the total market value, Jason may appeal to the court and demand a public hearing or jury, as established by American law.
