Hopkinsville Promotes Lot Next Door Program to Address Vacant Lots

City aims to reduce maintenance costs and help residents take over abandoned properties next to their homes.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:30pm

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of a residential street with overgrown, abandoned lots next to well-maintained homes, captured in soft, warm pools of color and light, conveying the mood and concept of a neighborhood reclaiming neglected spaces.A community-driven program empowers Hopkinsville residents to transform neglected lots into vibrant extensions of their own properties.Hopkinsville Today

The City of Hopkinsville is continuing to promote its Lot Next Door Program, which allows residents to take over vacant, abandoned lots next to their homes. The program is designed to help reduce the city's growing maintenance burden tied to neglected properties, with a $25 assessment fee and $175 application fee for eligible homeowners.

Why it matters

Hopkinsville has roughly 1,000 vacant lots, and the Lot Next Door Program is part of the city's partnership with the Hopkinsville and Christian County Land Bank Authority to address vacant and deteriorated properties. The program aims to empower residents to take control of abandoned lots while also reducing the city's maintenance costs.

The details

The Lot Next Door Program begins with a $25 assessment fee and an initial eligibility review by the city. If the adjoining lot qualifies, the resident must complete a full application with a $175 fee. However, the process may be longer than expected, as the lot may have to move through the court system if it has tax delinquencies or other legal barriers.

  • The public forum on the Lot Next Door Program was held last week.
  • Since late 2020, 21 of the 48 properties transferred out of the Hopkinsville and Christian County Land Bank have been tied to the Lot Next Door Program.

The players

Amanda Brunt

City Information Officer for the City of Hopkinsville.

Hopkinsville and Christian County Land Bank Authority

A partnership that has existed since 2007 and has become a central part of Hopkinsville's effort to address vacant and deteriorated properties.

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What they’re saying

“The Lot Next Door Program is designed for homeowners who live beside a vacant lot that has become overgrown, abandoned, or tied up by unpaid taxes and other issues.”

— Amanda Brunt, City Information Officer

“The costs in mowing and maintaining abandoned lots for safety and appearance reasons are significant.”

— Amanda Brunt, City Information Officer

What’s next

The city will continue to promote the Lot Next Door Program and work with the Hopkinsville and Christian County Land Bank Authority to address vacant and deteriorated properties in Hopkinsville.

The takeaway

The Lot Next Door Program is a creative solution to empower residents to take control of abandoned lots while also reducing the city's maintenance costs, demonstrating Hopkinsville's commitment to addressing its growing number of vacant properties.