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Pittsburgh Land Bank approves two sales, moves to speed acquisitions and expand rehab pilot
Summary
At its April 10 meeting the Pittsburgh Land Bank approved the sale of two Kennedy Avenue parcels and the conveyance of city-owned lots to a developer, accepted March financials and a clean 2025 audit, and discussed using sheriff-sale authority and a pilot residential rehab program to accelerate returning vacant structures to the tax rolls.
The Pittsburgh Land Bank on April 10 approved several property transactions and staff initiatives aimed at speeding rehabilitation and bringing long-vacant properties back into productive use.
The board voted to convey two Kennedy Avenue properties — 243 and 247 Kennedy Avenue — to Maddie's Homes (an affiliate of J. Michael Head) for $10,000 and approved a separate authorization to acquire several city-owned lots in the 12th Ward and convey them to Louis DeVido and Costa Contracting (or affiliates) for $100,000. Both measures passed by voice vote.
The Kennedy Avenue sale follows public-comment remarks by J. Michael Head, who said his firm has acquired 21 properties in Pittsburgh and invested about $4.8 million, adding, “Our goal is to provide 500 affordable houses throughout the city” as part of a five-year plan. Head told the board he submitted offers to buy three Kennedy Avenue doors and plans roughly $350,000 in construction and beautification for the initial units.
Executive Director Sally told the board the Kennedy Avenue project will proceed in partnership with Rising Tide Partners and other neighborhood groups; she said one of the Kennedy parcels will be sold as a side yard and the other is slated for deconstruction under a PHDC LSA pilot grant. “Deconstruction is a form of demolition but it’s when you carefully deconstruct the property so that you can preserve and resell and repurpose the building materials of the home,” Executive Director Sally said.
Separately, the board approved Resolution 21 to acquire a cluster of city-owned lots in the 12th Ward using ARPA funds and convey them to Louis DeVido and Costa Contracting for $100,000. Staff described that proposal as a phased new-construction project that would start with two to three homes to test the market, with early listings expected around $350,000.
On finance, the board accepted March 2026 financial statements and approved the 2025 audit, which staff described as a clean report. Director Wilson said the organization’s bookkeeping has improved since contracting Bookminders and that ARPA funds and staffing charges are reflected in the current statements.
Staff highlighted steps to accelerate acquisitions using sheriff-sale authority. Director Stadem explained that, unlike the treasurer-sale process, state law gives the land bank a priority bid at sheriff sale so properties are not exposed to public auction and the land bank can receive a deed with a free-and-clear title more quickly. “We’re able to acquire property about nine months and when we receive that property it will have a free and clear title,” Director Stadem said, saying the process can shorten timelines that previously could take as long as two years.
Staff also reviewed the pilot residential rehab program: several pilot properties are listed or pending sale to owner-occupants and small developers, and the land bank plans information sessions and an RFQ for engineers and architects to support inspections and work plans. Staff urged applicants to supply proof of funding and an approved rehab plan.
Board business included tabling the March 2026 meeting minutes so the public-comment portion could be streamlined, and authorizing design services with Sarah Coffee Design for the land bank’s 2025 annual report following a competitive RFP process. The board welcomed new member Jesse Ainsman, a commercial real-estate broker with JLL, and set its next meeting for May 8.
The meeting concluded with no speakers during the second public-comment period and a motion to adjourn.
Votes at a glance • Motion to table March 2026 minutes — passed (voice vote). • Resolution 18: Contract with Sarah Coffee Design for 2025 annual report — approved (voice vote). • Resolution 21: Acquire specified 12th Ward lots using ARPA funds and convey to Louis DeVido/Costa Contracting for $100,000 — approved (voice vote). • Resolution 22: Convey 243 and 247 Kennedy Avenue to Maddie’s Homes (affiliate of J. Michael Head) for $10,000 — approved (voice vote). • Acceptance of March 2026 financials and approval of the 2025 audit — approved (voice votes).
Next steps and context Staff said they will proceed with sheriff-sale submissions for about 22 properties in partnership with Hilltop Alliance under an LSA stabilization grant, finalize buyer contracts for the Kennedy Avenue conveyances and continue listings and outreach for the pilot residential rehab program. Staff also announced an upcoming RFQ for engineering and architectural services and a posted housing development manager position to expand in-house capacity as inventory shifts from vacant lots to structures.
