In 2021, Jason Fauntleroy thought he’d found a deal of a lifetime when he purchased a vacant lot for just $5,000 at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction. But what he didn’t realize at the time was that he hadn’t just bought a single lot — he had inadvertently acquired an entire street in Trenton, Ohio: Bloomfield Court. Now, the city of Trenton wants to reclaim the land through eminent domain. Fauntleroy is fighting back.
The Fight with the City
Fauntleroy’s drama began in October 2024 when Trenton initiated the eminent domain process to convert the private street into a public roadway. The city wants to take over maintenance responsibilities for the street, which currently serves as access for five homes. Fauntleroy claims the city has not been transparent or fair to him.
“They shut me out,” Fauntleroy said, reports WCPO. “They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even get through to anybody.”
According to Fauntleroy, the city appraised only the lot he originally intended to buy–and not the total value of the street he now owns. He wants compensation for the entirety of his property, as required by Ohio state law, which mandates “just compensation” for land taken through eminent domain.
The is no information on what the lot was appraised for and what an estimate would be for the entore street. There is also no reports of Fauntleroy having retained legal council.
“Treat people fair; do honest work,” said Fauntleroy. “Don’t just take advantage of someone because they don’t have the means of getting an attorney.”
Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols said it is not clear how Fauntleroy has ended up owning the full street.
Nichols said: ‘I’m not sure how that occurs other than it was a private drive that was created through a homeowner’s association.” And when questioned by WCPO as to why only the lot was appraised and not the street, Nichols responed: “I cannot speak to the appraised value.”
Time will tell how this story will play out and if Fauntleroy will get the compensation he feels he’s due. For now, Fauntleroy said he is dealing with a “nightmare.”
