Pittsburgh Land Bank approves transfers to Boys Hope Girls Hope, names acting executive director and amends Farmer Girl Ebb sale

The Pittsburgh Land Bank board voted March 14 to authorize acquisition of a small lot adjacent to a Boys Hope Girls Hope property and to convey that lot to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, appointed the land bank’s manager Sally Stadelman as acting executive director, and approved an amendment to a separate pending sale to allow the buyer to close the transaction in the name of an affiliated LLC.

Board members approved Resolution No. 15 to acquire Block 83A, Lot 48 on North Aiken Avenue from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) using ARPA funds, and to convey the parcel to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh. Board members then approved Resolution No. 16, which amends a 2024 authorization so that the property at Block 20A, Lot 106 in the Twentieth Ward may be conveyed to DeBase Holdings LLC, an affiliated entity of Farmer Girl Ebb, to permit closing under guidance from the buyer’s attorney.

The board also voted to appoint Sally Stadelman, the land bank’s manager, as acting executive director. The motions for the two resolutions and the appointment were seconded and passed with no recorded noes or abstentions.

Public comments at the start of the meeting included three speakers representing Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh and partner organizations. Ali Rush, identified in the meeting as the executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, described the organization as “a scholarship organization, a nonprofit” that provides residential and wraparound support to scholars and said the nonprofit acquired a nearby property last year as part of plans to locate a home-like facility near partner schools and families. Anissa Gilbert, a program alum and board member, said the program “completely over delivered” for participants, and Anthony Williams, head of school at the Neighborhood Academy, called the organization a “huge advocate” and noted a long partnership between the school and the nonprofit.

In staff updates, Stadelman told the board the land bank completed eight additional sales in the past month and had received deeds for roughly 28–29 parcels that staff will send to quiet-title proceedings. She reported that the land bank’s pilot residential rehab program has three additional properties newly listed with a realtor for sale to owner-occupants and said the realtor completed seven showings in the first week the properties were listed. Stadelman outlined buyer requirements for those rehab properties: applicants must commit to living in the property for five years, show proof of financing, and provide a rehab plan to be eligible.

Stadelman also said the land bank had hired a real estate transactions coordinator who is scheduled to start March 19 and that the land bank will post a full-time administrative coordinator position on the URA job site. On legislation and governance, she reported that the intergovernmental cooperation agreement (ICA) has been circulated to the school district and county for review and that the land bank has retained new legal representation after its prior attorney left his firm.

Board members repeatedly praised Stadelman’s work while discussing her appointment. Chair Bobby Wilson said the action “provides clarity for the land bank” about who is the point person, and other board members noted the move will help separate certain functions from the URA and build the land bank’s capacity.

The board said its next regular meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2025, at 1 p.m.