By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer

COVINGTON - As a real estate agent, Neil Blunt makes his living selling homes.

As a candidate for Covington City Commission, he believes home ownership is a vital contributor to a community's success and quality of life.

"A good balance of home ownership and well-maintained rental properties can start the renaissance we need in Covington," said Blunt, who has sold or listed 55 single-family Covington homes in the last four years.

Blunt is one of eight candidates running in the November election for the four commission seats. He is staking much of his campaign on an ambitious, yet-untested plan to entice new homeowners with tax breaks.

"Where I think we are making a mistake in this city is, we are not creating neighborhoods," Blunt said.

Some of Covington's neighborhoods - including Austinburg - are enjoying a rebirth through private investment and assistance from city hall.

But Blunt said sevesal other areas need attention and "perks" to thrive.

He has proposed establishing Home Ownership Zones throughout the city. Homebuyers in each of the four-block areas could take a property tax break on a sliding scale for up to 10 years.

In the first year, the owner would pay just 10 percent of the property tax.

It would increase by 10 percent a year until reaching the full amount after a decade.

The break would be transberable to a new owner if the property were sold within 10 years.

Blunt also wants homeowners in the zones to be able to receive a sales tax break on any product used to improve the home. State law allows for some tax breaks on materials used to rehabilitate historic buildings, but it's not clear if the law would apply to Blunt's proposal.

"A home ownership zone that I hope to create will add even more home owners, increase the tax base and create extensions to already thriving neighborhoods," he said.

The zone could also boost sales of rental properties, many of which are owned by "absentee landlords" who care little about the maintenance and upkeep of the properties, Blunt said.

The proposal from Blunt, a Wallace Woods resident making his first run for political office, has received mixed reaction from his opponents.

Commissioner Bernie Moorman said he thought Blunt "was on the right track."

"It's a good start, I like his direction," Moorman said. "The city does need to do more to physically create and restore neighborhoods."

Planning would help accomplish that, but little is done at city hall to establish or follow citywide planning.

"There are plans sitting on a shelf, but no commitment to implement any of that," Moorman said. "The riverfront has succeeded because there was a plan. But we've been living off that plan for too long. We need a plan for downtown and the rest of the city."

Commission candidate Rob Sanders questioned the legality and fairness of Blunt's proposal.

"I'm all in favor of increasing home ownership in our city. Who isn't," he said. "If, in fact, (home ownership zones) don't violate state law, then they might be a nice gimmick.

"I place a higher priority on lowering taxes for all Covington residents," Sanders said. "Why should a new resident get a tax break that is not available to someone who has lived here all of his or her life?"

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com