By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The clock is ticking to purchase 36 city-owned properties.

The city of Lewiston began advertising this weekend to sell 36 lots spread around the city. The city took over most of the lots in lieu of unpaid property taxes and the goal now is to get them back on private hands, paying taxes.

“Most of them are pretty small and not worth much to anyone that isn’t right next door,” said Norm Beauparlant, Lewiston budget and purchasing director. He notified neighbors directly, mailing 150 packets to abutters Thursday.

“It would be easy to miss the sale, and these people would be ones most affected,” he said.

But the city is not looking for an outright sale, Beauparlant said. Potential buyers need to tell the city what they plan to do with the property. Bids are due by Feb. 23 and the city hopes to close on most deals by March 31.

Most of the lots are smaller than one acre. All told, they represent about $1 million in assessed property value.

The biggest parcel is at 76 Cote St., with almost 15 acres of undeveloped land valued at $296,000. That would generate about $8,000 in property taxes right away. Other notable parcels include:

• Eight acres bordering the Maine Turnpike, at 142 Goddard Road

• 14.3 acres of undeveloped land next to the Androscoggin River, north of Tall Pines. That property would generate $1,149 in property taxes

• Two lots, each less than an acre, along the Androscoggin River behind L.L. Bean’s Chapel Street building and Redlon and Johnson’s Middle Street building. Together, they would generate about $2,282 in property taxes

• A 30,000-square-foot lot at Lisbon and Cedar streets. That would generate more than $500 in new property taxes.