Representatives from the Tricog Land Bank presented to Crafton Borough Council July 24 on how a municipal land bank could be used to acquire, clear title to and return abandoned or blighted properties to productive use.

Anne Lewis, director of the Tricog Land Bank and Steel Rivers Council of Governments, described the land bank's legal authority under Pennsylvania's Land Bank Act and explained the organization's standard operating model: acquire problem properties (by conservatorship, purchase or other legal means), clear title so the property becomes insurable, secure the exterior, remove junk, and then disposition the property to vetted buyers or developers. "We clear title such that the property will qualify for title insurance," Lewis said, and the organization vets buyers to prioritize owner-occupancy.

Lewis told council the land bank has a current pipeline of properties, property disposition programs including a "reno-lite" option to make modest repairs for immediate occupancy, and a policy of filing an enforcement mortgage to ensure renovation commitments are completed. She said roughly 70% of properties the land bank moves through its pipeline end up owner-occupied.

Jim (borough staff) and Lewis discussed the cost model if Crafton joins: membership requires participation by the borough and the school district and an annual payment tied to the prior year's collected delinquent tax receipts (described as the membership fee, typically averaging under $5,000 for many municipalities). Lewis said the land bank also shares 50% of recovered taxes with participating taxing bodies for five years after a property returns to the tax rolls, then reverts wholly to the municipality thereafter.

Council members asked about liability for legal challenges; Tricog representatives said the land bank assumes legal costs and litigation risk for acquiring properties through conservatorship or similar actions. Council members also asked which local parcels are candidates; Tricog staff estimated Crafton likely has 10 properties that are strong candidates and perhaps another 10 that could potentially qualify depending on circumstances.

Lewis and staff said the land bank is not typically a good fit for planned demolitions: properties that require immediate demolition yield limited returns because new construction is frequently cost-prohibitive. Instead, Lewis said the land bank's "bread and butter" is vacant houses that can be rehabilitated and returned to the tax rolls.

Council members were told that, if Crafton chooses to join, municipal and school board legislation would need to be passed by the land bank's October board meeting. Tricog staff also noted active grant-seeking and philanthropic fundraising to augment the land bank's operating budget.

Ending: Tricog provided printed materials and said staff would send an electronic copy of the presentation; council asked staff to follow up with detailed numbers from the delinquent-tax collector to estimate Crafton's annual membership cost.