NORWICH – City officials have acquired five properties in arrears and will be trying to find buyers for them in the coming weeks.

A 30-day tax deadline extension expired at the end of March. Fourteen property owners were given this opportunity to pay what was owed, and according to Finance Director Bill Roberts, most were able to redeem their properties in that time. Six owners owing a combination of city, county and school district taxes from as far back as 2010 have yet to pay, subjecting their property to be legally seized by the city. One of these has filed for bankruptcy, preventing the city from taking further action.

City officials acquired the remaining five properties and are now preparing to match each to the best potential buyer.

“It’s a time consuming process because each property is different,” Roberts noted. “The city’s objective is not to obtain real estate. We’re not in the real estate business,” he added.