Throughout Westmoreland County, in our cities, boroughs and townships, there are abandoned dilapidated structures. Properties like these present numerous public safety hazards and hurt property values. However, some of these properties also show enormous potential for renovation, remodel or even demolition and reconstruction.
Many times these buildings because they have no economic value to their owners become tax delinquent. When they enter tax delinquency it often makes them that much more difficult to redevelop.
Enter the Westmoreland County Land Bank.
New state legislation allows municipalities of populations greater than 10,000 to establish land banks to acquire, rehab and transfer property that might otherwise continue to drag down the community. The county’s established Land Bank will allow for public control of abandoned property and the assembly of parcels for residential, recreational, commercial and industrial redevelopment. It will empower communities to reverse the negative economic impact of neglected properties. Reuse options will include commercial redevelopment, affordable housing initiatives, side-lots, green space and parks, and economic development projects.
The county’s Redevelopment Authority is the lead agency on this exciting new Land Bank initiative. To learn more, including how your municipality can participate, contact the Redevelopment Authority Executive Director April Kopas at 724-830-3366 or [email protected]