Why the Family May Have Sold, and How We Can Stop It from Happening Again
For decades, the property at 1102 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Drive sat in the hands of the
Crumbsby family. It was heir property, land passed down through generations, once representing stability and pride. But by 2018, after years of probate proceedings and out-of-state heirs, the family sold both lots for $14,250.
Today, those same parcels hold newly built “twin” homes that sold for more than $400,000 each, and property taxes that used to be a few hundred dollars have soared to nearly $5,000 a year.
The records suggest the heirs’ decision wasn’t about greed, it was about pressure and distance.
The original owner had passed away, leaving several relatives scattered across different states. Maintaining a vacant lot from hundreds of miles away, paying yearly taxes, and navigating legal paperwork was likely overwhelming. Add in a developer’s offer of quick cash, before the family could realize what was coming to the neighborhood, and the sale became almost inevitable.
Once that land left the family’s hands, so did a piece of their legacy. The return on that $14,000 sale is now reaping profits for developers, not descendants. What was once affordable, Black-owned ground is now part of a new wave of redevelopment that few of the original families can afford to return to.
How to Prevent This Pattern
(1) Protect Heir Property Early: Families should record updated deeds, create simple ownership agreements, or set up a family trust before an elder passes away. Clear title keeps land from being tied up in court or sold under pressure.
(2) Seek Free Legal or Title Clinics: Local organizations, historically Black colleges, and some county legal aid offices host “Heir Property” or “Title Clearing” workshops. These help families keep property in their names and avoid forced probate sales.
(3) Share Information Openly: Many families sell because they don’t realize redevelopment is coming. When residents know what’s planned, zoning changes, CRA projects, or major investments, they can make informed decisions or negotiate fair value.
(4) Form Community Land Trusts (CLTs): A CLT allows neighbors to collectively hold land for affordable housing, gardens, or cultural spaces, keeping ownership in the community even as property values rise.
(5) Push for Tax Relief & Legacy Protections: Local governments can establish programs to cap property-tax increases for long-time homeowners or offer “legacy owner exemptions” so elders aren’t taxed out of their own neighborhoods.
Generational wealth isn’t just about money, it’s about keeping roots in the ground. Every
lot that slips away is another link broken between the past and the future. What happened on MLK Drive shouldn’t be seen as progress; it’s a warning.