US man accidentally buys entire street for $5,000 instead of a vacant lot. Then the city tried to fool him

When Jason Fauntleroy set out to buy land for a future home, he never imagined he would end up owning an entire street. In 2021, Fauntleroy placed a $5,000 bid at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction in Ohio, believing he was purchasing a vacant plot in Trenton, just north of Cincinnati. However, when the paperwork came through, he learned that he hadn’t just purchased the lot but also now owned Bloomfield Court, a private road lined with five occupied homes, as reported by WCPO 9.

Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols admitted even he wasn’t entirely sure how the mix-up happened. "I’m not sure how that occurs other than it was a private drive that was created through a homeowner’s association," he told WCPO, "The homeowner’s association was responsible for maintaining that property and upkeeping it." Fauntleroy did not purchase the five homes themselves, but because the road was no longer tied to the homeowners’ association, he became responsible for maintaining it. What began as a hopeful plan to build a house soon turned into a three-year ordeal. By 2024, the city of Trenton had moved to reclaim Bloomfield Court through eminent domain. 

But Fauntleroy insists the process has been anything but fair. He argues that instead of assessing all the land he technically owns, including the street, the city only appraised the vacant lot. "They shut me out. They blocked my calls. It’s hard to even get through anybody," he said, describing the ordeal as a "nightmare." It turns out he’s far from alone in feeling that way. A 2023 study on eminent domain found that when people believe their land has been undervalued, the anger often lingers long after the legal paperwork is done. Even if the city follows the rules, being offered less than what feels fair leaves many owners with a sense of being overlooked and unfairly treated, the same frustration Fauntleroy describes.

WCPO also reported that the situation was complicated by contentious conversations between Fauntleroy and the city, with officials pointing to his behavior as part of the challenge. Nichols himself wouldn’t weigh in on the valuation, saying only, "I cannot speak to the appraised value." The city’s stated goal is to convert Bloomfield Court into a public roadway so that Trenton — not a private individual — would be responsible for maintaining it. But Fauntleroy argues he should still receive a fairer offer for the property. "Treat people fair; do honest work," he said. "Don’t just take advantage of someone because they don’t have the means of getting an attorney."

A lot of viewers sympathized with Fauntleroy and expressed their concern for him in the comments. @allamericanjoe wrote, "Bet he's been paying taxes on the appraised value, including the street, give the man his money and move on." @roselynn816 said, "Wait, so the city sold him this land, then they wanted to use eminent domain to take it from him?" @DonJulio4649 added, "When the man said he gets his calls blocked by the city officials, I thought, 'No way.' Until they showed the city dude, and I totally believe it. He looks toxic af and pissed off. @dc100dc100 chimed in, "Dude’s eyes went shifty when they asked about the appraisal. They know what they are doing. FOIA all their communications about that appraisal and that lot."

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