Auction block looms for delinquent tax properties

ALBANY, Ga. — More than 500 properties are set to be auctioned off on the first Tuesday in August as the county seeks to reclaim more than $800,000 in unpaid property taxes, fines and fees.

The properties range from vacant residential homes to large commercial properties and are situated in every corner of the county, Dougherty County Tax Director Denver Hooten said.

And according to the advertisement that was published in Tuesday’s Albany Herald, many are ones you may recognize.

The failed townhouse development off the Sand Dunes on Frank Postell Drive is up for auction with more than $3,500 in outstanding taxes and fees. Part of that development was backed with federal HUD dollars as low-to-moderate income housing project known as University Gardens. That project never came to fruition and the townhouses that were built as a separate part of that development with private dollars never gained traction with the buying public.

The Roses shopping plaza at 1604 East Oglethorpe Blvd. will be auctioned off unless $37,658 in unpaid taxes are collected from the owners, Alpharetta, Ga.-based LN2000, LLC., Hooten said.

According to tax officials, Albany Mitsubishi owes the city, county and school board $18,353; while Georgia Car Credit — another car sales facility — on North Slappey is also in danger of being auctioned if they don’t pay a $3,219 tax bill.

Some of the bigger totals on the list belong to the owners of Archwood Plaza off of Westover Boulevard, who, according to tax records, owe more than $38,000 in back property taxes on that plaza.

The owners of the Westover Pointe shopping plaza at 2700 Dawson Road owe more than $83,000 in back property taxes.

Businesses and residents listed on the tax sale list can pay their bills before the gavel falls August 7 and avoid being auctioned, Hooten said.

“It’s all in flux,” Hooten said. “We’ll have people pay their bills right before the auction, which is a good thing. We’d rather them pay… and then some go to auction and are never paid.”