Council approves resale of tax‑sale parcels after deleting contested lots; members press city on out‑of‑town LLC purchases

Pittsburgh council members on Dec. 17 approved a resolution authorizing the sale of numerous tax‑sale properties but amended the legislation to remove several contested parcels after extended debate about buyers and local impacts.

Finance Director Jen Gula told council the items on the legislation are properties where purchasers failed to close and therefore the city reverts title and re‑offers the parcels; the city provides notice and a process that can include a court auction if objections are filed. Council members pressed Gula on whether the city can legally give preference to local residents and what protections exist when out‑of‑town LLCs purchase many properties.

Councilwoman McKeel Smith, Councilwoman Warwick and Councilman Coghill expressed concern that LLCs from outside the region have been buying multiple homes and sometimes sit on properties rather than rehabilitate them. McKeel Smith asked whether the sale packets include buyer names and whether the city can identify purchasers’ headquarters; Gula said the buyer name and intended use is in the packet though certain identifying fields (FEIN, SSN) cannot be publicly disclosed.

Several voice amendments were adopted: a motion deleted items c and d after a council member said those parcels were part of a neighborhood infill plan; a later motion struck items g and h, which council members said were held by out‑of‑town LLCs. After the amendments the bill received an affirmative recommendation.

Council members asked staff to provide additional details on purchasers in the packet and said they will follow up by email. Gula said the city asks the URA, planning and land‑bank partners to weigh in on whether to sell and that there is a reverter clause in deeds permitting the city to reclaim property if buyers fail to meet requirements.