Municipal corporations may lay out, establish, construct, maintain, and operate within their respective corporate limits, off-street parking facilities for motor vehicles, and in connection therewith and for such purpose may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, exchange, lease, or sublease any existing off-street parking facilities or any real estate or interest therein required for the construction of such parking facilities. In the exercise of the powers granted in this section for the acquisition of real estate, municipal corporations may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code. Such power of eminent domain shall not extend to or be exercised for the purpose of acquiring real estate owned, leased, or held by a public utility or railroad, or any real estate upon which off-street parking facilities, open to the general public have been established for a period of one year prior to the proposed acquisition thereof.

If it is determined by the legislative authority of any municipal corporation that real estate owned or leased by such municipal corporation and used for off-street parking facilities is no longer needed for such purpose, it may sell, lease, or sublease the real estate in the manner provided by Chapter 721. of the Revised Code. Any instrument of sale, lease, or sublease of real estate acquired by a municipal corporation under such power of eminent domain shall, if such real estate is sold, leased, or subleased by the municipal corporation within ten years from the date of its acquisition thereof, contain a covenant running with the land requiring such real estate to be used solely for off-street parking facilities for the balance of such ten-year period. In the event the grantee, lessee, or sublessee fails to use the real estate so sold, leased, or subleased solely for off-street parking facilities for such period of time, title thereto or interest therein shall revert to and vest in the grantor.

Land acquired under this section is not tax exempt, except if any municipal corporation owns and operates parking facilities used exclusively for a public purpose under this section and charges no fee for the privilege of parking thereon, such facilities are tax exempt.

Effective Date: 03-08-1979 .