The Adopt-A-Vacant Lot Program was a pilot program from 2016 until 2019 to allow churches, families, businesses and other groups to adopt city-owned vacant lots and transform them into beautiful community amenities. The City of Kinston and Kinston Teens envisioned a wide range of uses for this program. Example projects can include small-scale farms, community gardens and recreation areas. Some ideas:
A church, ministry or religious organization transforms a lot into a neighborhood prayer garden.
A youth organization grows fruits and vegetables and runs a produce stand as a long-term fundraiser for their organization.
A neighborhood resident adopts a vacant lot beside their home to create a “living fence,” or just to maintain the property to keep it clean.
While the program has ended, we are grateful for the community’s support of this initiative. The AVL Program was made possible by a grant contribution from Wells Fargo and the United States Conference of Mayors in 2016. To serve as a resource to other organizations and communities who may be interested in launching a similar program, below you will find our Process Overview and Application. Interested in learning more? Give us a call at (252) 522-8012.
RESOURCES
AVL Process Overview – Use this document for a step-by-step overview of the Adopt-A-Vacant Lot Program, how it works and how your organization take part in it.
AVL Application – Click here for the initial application for your community organization to adopt a lot through the AVL Program. Applications can also be found at the Kinston Teens office or Kinston Planning Department.
If you are interested in acquiring a vacant lot in Kinston, you can contact the Kinston Planning Department at (252) 939-3269 or the Lenoir County Tax Department at (252) 527-7174 to learn more about city-owned or county-owned properties and what steps you’ll need to take.