Pittsburgh Land Bank approves multiple property transfers, advances residential-rehab pilot; Fulton Street transfers stall

The Pittsburgh Land Bank board on Sept. 12, 2025, approved a series of property acquisitions and contracts and advanced a pilot residential-rehab program, using ARPA funds and other local mechanisms to clear titles and ready properties for sale to owner-occupants and community partners. Two resolutions to convey multiple Fulton Street parcels to the nonprofit Out of the End did not receive a second and therefore did not pass; a separate conveyance was tabled for one month.

The actions matter because the land bank’s decisions move vacant, tax-delinquent and city- or URA-owned parcels back into active use, seek to stabilize housing in neighborhoods including Homewood, Spring Hill, Larimer and the Hill District, and support nonprofit-led community projects. Board members and staff emphasized the use of ARPA funds for assessments and stabilization work and described the pilot program as a way to prioritize rehabilitable homes for owner-occupants.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 61 — Contract with Engineering Elegance LLC for building evaluations and full work plans for residential rehab properties, not to exceed $10,000 (ARPA funds). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 62 — Contract with CityStudio LLC for building evaluations, stabilization work plans and cost estimates for up to 24 structures in the Southern Hilltop, not to exceed $10,000 (ARPA funds). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 63 — Acquire several Fulton Street parcels from the URA and convey to Out of the End Inc.; contingent URA approval and costs described (ARPA funds). Outcome: failed (no second). - Resolution 64 — Acquire Fulton Street parcels from the city and convey to Out of the End Inc.; prepare properties for sale; costs not to exceed $30,000 (ARPA funds). Outcome: failed (no second). - Resolution 65 — Acquire 6513 Meadow Street (Block 125B Lot 116-0-1) from the URA and convey to Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School for $10,000. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 66 — Acquire a Hamilton Avenue parcel (Block 174-P Lot 142) from the URA and convey to Rising Tide Partners for $4,400. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 67 — Acquire two Center Avenue lots (Block 10N Lots 287 and 288) from the URA and convey to Black Beauty’s Lounge (Roberta Cole) for $7,000. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 68 — Acquire Auburn Street parcel (Block 83S Lot 296) from the URA and convey to Dobus Worldwide LLC (Andrew Taglianetti) for $5,000. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 69 — Acquire Curtin Avenue lots (Block 14E Lots 11 and 12) from the city, prepare for sale (quiet title, costs up to $15,000) and convey to Hilltop Rising LLC for $15,000. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 70 — Acquire two North Homewood parcels (Block 174J Lots 134 and 135) from the city, prepare for sale (quiet title, costs up to $15,000) and convey to the URA for $15,000. Outcome: approved. - Resolutions 71–76 — Six properties (various Spring Hill and nearby parcels) authorized for acquisition and for the board to prepare each structure for sale (quiet title, cleanout and sealing; per-property stabilization budget not to exceed $50,000 using ARPA funds) as part of the pilot residential-rehab program. Outcome: all approved. - Resolution 77 — Acquire Block 116G Lot 42 (0 Latimer Street) from the city, prepare property for sale (quiet title, cost not to exceed $7,500) and convey to current adopt-a-lot leaseholder David Mazza for $7,500. Outcome: approved; one board member recorded an abstention. - Resolution 78 — Acquire 111 Chalfont Street (Block 15L Lot 195) from the city and prepare for sale (quiet title, cleanout and sealing; cost not to exceed $50,000) and convey to Maurice Rhodes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 79 — Acquire 6411 Meadow Street (Block 124P Lot 79-A) and prepare for sale (cost not to exceed $50,000). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 80 — Convey two High Street parcels (Block 24C Lot 192 at 1257 High St and Block 24C Lot 133 at 1266 High St) to GGH Properties LLC (affiliate Alec Gessner) for $34,999.99. Staff requested a one-month hold because proof of financing was not yet received. Outcome: tabled for 1 month. - Resolution 81 — Convey 33319 Niagara Street (Block 28P Lot 333) to Dan E. Rhodes for $20,000. Outcome: approved.

Public comment and community projects Several speakers addressed the board during public comment. Brooke Christie, legal counsel for Out of the End, urged the board to pass Resolutions 63 and 64 so that Manchester Farm could be conveyed to Out of the End; Christie said the farm has been “producing over 12,000 pounds of food, hosting educational programming, providing stipends to residents for their work on the land, and creating a vital third space for community.” The two Fulton Street resolutions did not advance because a second was not offered when the board called for one.

Tyler Jones, an owner-occupant adjacent to a condemned property on Lappie Lane, told the board he was "ready to do it both financially and from a planning perspective" and asked the land bank to speed the sale so he could stabilize the adjoining unit. Rising Tide Partners’ executive director Kendall Pelling described the board’s movement of a Hamilton Avenue parcel as part of a larger assemblage in Homewood, calling the land bank a partner in neighborhood-scale redevelopment.

Staff updates and process notes Treasurer and staff reported the land bank has received ARPA funds and is managing budget draws to match current spending. Staff also announced an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (ICA) among the land bank, the city, Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools that is scheduled for city council committee review Sept. 17; the ICA would implement procedures the Pennsylvania Land Bank Act requires for placement of property into sheriff’s sale and include a five-year 50% tax-recapture provision for the taxing bodies. Staff said the ICA would give the school district and county seats on the land bank board if adopted.

Staff reported 58 properties sold from the land bank inventory and about 40 properties in closing. They also reported three recent donations and described objection letters received on certain transfers (two objections to the Urban Academy sale did not meet the 15-objection threshold and did not trigger a public meeting). The board also shared takeaways from the recent National Land Bank Network summit in Detroit.

What’s next The Pittsburgh Land Bank’s next scheduled meeting is Oct. 10, 2025. City Council’s standing committee will consider the intergovernmental cooperation agreement on Sept. 17, 2025, at 10 a.m., staff said.

Ending Board members adjourned after completing the agenda, with staff noting outreach resources for prospective buyers and upcoming listings on MLS for properties that have been stabilized and cleared for sale.