LOOGOOTEE, Ind. (June 08, 2026)— Paving the way for new community development, the Uplands Regional Land Bank has acquired a total of 17 vacant, abandoned, or deteriorated properties in the three years since its founding. Of those acquired, three have been sold and 14 are being prepared for sale or are currently for sale.

“With every property we acquire, we focus on finding the best solution to reinvest it back into the community,” said Bobbie Abel, director of the Uplands Regional Land Bank. “First, we assess any remaining structures on our sites to determine if they can be rehabilitated. If they cannot be— which is often the case— then we demolish and clear the site, readying it for redevelopment.”

Having gone through the assessment and preparation process with the sites that the URLB owns, 11 properties (vacant lots, homes that need rehabilitated, or freshly demolished lots) are for sale in the region with an additional property pending sale in Daviess County. 

In addition to its properties for sale, the URLB is donating one of its vacant lots to the French Lick Redevelopment Commission, which will become additional green space as part of The Parks at Cherry Hill. 

Another site, located on SR 558 in Odon, is being prepared for future redevelopment. To make this happen, the URLB partnered with CFDI Friendly Bloomington and Indiana Brownfields’ Petroleum Orphan Sites Initiative (POSI) program to conduct an environmental study, demolish the building, remediate the site, and seek future opportunities. 

“The last several months our community partnerships have grown, which has allowed us to take on so many property redevelopment projects,” said Abel. “As our organization continues to expand, we are committed to continually improving our southern Indiana communities. Whether that’s creating workforce housing, parks, lots for development, or anything else.” 

With its sold properties under ongoing renovation contracts, two of the three properties are in the process of being rehabilitated into homes for first-time homebuyers. The third is in the process of being turned into a pollinator garden.

“It’s great to see the transformation in Martin County,” said Jessica Potts, who serves as the executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth and as an active board member for the URLB. “Working together as a community is so important for economic development and improving quality of life. That’s why I look forward to continuing our partnership, boosting economic development in our county and beyond.” 

To sell, donate, or buy a property from the Uplands Regional Land Bank or to learn about partnership or contracting opportunities, visit www.urlandbank.com or follow the organization on Facebook.