Bringing development experts from state county and municipal levels, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Wilkinsburg, and state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-East Liberty, held a state policy hearing in Wilkinsburg to seek remedies to the growing problem of blighted properties across the state.
“Blight is a scourge that impedes both business and residential interest in a community,” Costa said.
“We must do what we can to give our municipalities the resources, tools and flexibility they need to quickly eradicate blight and begin revitalization efforts.”
One of those resources, recently approved in Pittsburgh, is landbanking, a process that allows municipalities like Wilkinsburg, with at least 10,000 residents, to acquire blighted properties, clear delinquent taxes and liens, and prepare them for investment and revitalization—all aimed at returning the property to the tax rolls and productive use.
Local governments have the option of joining and must pay 5 percent of yearly delinquent tax collections to help fund the program.
But even smaller Allegheny County communities, Costa said, could benefit by forming entities similar to the Tri-COG Landbank that recently received $1.5 million in start-up funds from the Heinz Endowments.
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