An Ohio man accidentally bought an entire street instead of just a lot for $5,000. After years of dispute, the city of Trenton has settled the case and taken over the road.
What started as a simple property purchase turned into an unbelievable ordeal after a man in Ohio accidentally became the owner of an entire street.
How It Happened
In 2021, Jason Fauntleroy paid $5,000 at a Butler County Sheriff’s Office auction to buy a vacant lot on Bloomfield Court in Trenton, Ohio. His plan was straightforward — build a house on the land.
But after the sale went through, Fauntleroy discovered he hadn’t just purchased the lot. He had also unknowingly become the legal owner of the entire road running through the neighborhood.
The street, Bloomfield Court, serves five houses. While Fauntleroy didn’t own the homes, he became fully responsible for road maintenance and upkeep.
City Response
Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols explained that the road was originally a private drive maintained by a homeowners’ association (HOA). At some point, the HOA’s responsibility ended, and the road was auctioned off with the lot — leading to Fauntleroy’s unusual purchase.
Nichols admitted:
“I’m not sure how that occurs other than it was a private drive that was created through a homeowner’s association. The homeowner’s association was responsible for maintaining that property and upkeeping it.”
Three Years of Dispute
For three years, Fauntleroy was stuck with the responsibility for the road. When the city of Trenton tried to reclaim the road through eminent domain, he argued he wasn’t being offered a fair value for the land.
Now, the city has issued an update confirming the matter has finally been resolved.
The Final Settlement
Nichols confirmed:
“The case was settled and the private road has been accepted as a City maintained road.”
The city has already incorporated Bloomfield Court into its local paving project, noting that the final topcoat of asphalt had never been applied. Officials plan to upgrade the street to city standards, improving both driving conditions and drainage.
A Relief for the Homeowner
The resolution means Fauntleroy is no longer responsible for maintaining the road that serves other residents. What began as an auction mistake that left him accidentally owning an entire street has now ended with the city reclaiming responsibility.
