State of the Land Report: August 2024

State of the Land Report: August 2024The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh!How to Mitigate Heirs' Property and Tangled TitleAs Pittsburgh’s population has declined over the past 40 years, many homes have been abandoned, or their owners died without specifying who would take over the deed to the house. We call these properties dead-end properties. Often…

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State of the Land Report: April 2024

State of the Land Report: April 2024The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh!State of the Land UpdatesProperty Tax Reassessment in Allegheny CountyIn our last issues, we learned that property taxes are calculated based on the assessed value of a property and that many of the properties in Allegheny County have not been assessed since 2012.…

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State of the Land Report: Quarter 4 Wrap-Up

State of the Land Report: Quarter 4 Wrap-UpThe State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh!State of the Land UpdatesProperty Tax Inequity in Allegheny CountyHomeowners are responsible for paying taxes on their property. These revenues fund many of the local government’s activities. Concerningly, in Allegheny County, low-income homeowners in distressed communities end up footing a disproportionate amount…

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State of the Land Report: July 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates  Amendment to the Municipal Claims and Tax Lien Law Passes PA State Legislature The amendment to the Municipal Claims and Tax Lien Law (MCTLL) was passed by the PA State legislature and signed into law on July 5th, 2023. It grants second class cities (Pittsburgh)…

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State of the Land Report: May 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates Updates on February 2023 Main Story: MCTLL and TPCA The amendment to the Municipal Claims and Tax Lien Law (MCTLL) would grant second class cities (Pittsburgh) the legal right to recycle land through the Sheriff's sale, rather than the Treasurer’s…

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State of the Land Report: April 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates Bethel AME Church to be reunited with unjustly seized land in the Lower Hill In the 1950s, the newly established Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) marked a large section of the Lower Hill District as “blighted*” despite the presence…

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State of the Land Report: March 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates City Council Assessing RCOs Role in Facilitating Equitable Neighborhood Development On March 1st, 2023, the Pittsburgh City Council held a Post-Agenda Meeting & Public Hearing on the state of Registered Community Organizations (RCOs). Representatives from the Department of City…

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State of the Land Report: February 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates Why does the Tri-Party Cooperation Agreement matter for the Pittsburgh Land Bank? The Tri-Party Cooperation Agreement is an intergovernmental agreement that is allowed under the The Pittsburgh Land Bank legislation that was passed back in 2014. The agreement…

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State of the Land Report: January 2023

State of the Land Report The State of the Land Report is our monthly update where we will be educating and sharing out about everything you need to know about vacant land policy in the City of Pittsburgh! State of the Land Updates In Response: Fighting blight by fixing up homes could bring down Philly gun violence, new study shows In the City of Pittsburgh, we have an estimated 30,000 vacant properties, and around 13,000 are the City of Pittsburgh-owned. Hypervacancy disproportionately…

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Any Exposure is Bad Exposure: A Comparison on Lead Safety & COVID-19 Safety Practices

As we learn more about the Coronavirus and how to limit exposure, proper health and safety precautions are on everyone's minds. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending we wash our hands for 20 seconds, avoid touching our faces, and regularly disinfect hard surfaces like countertops or doorknobs. You may know that these are important measures to take to mitigate risk of catching the virus, or spreading it to other more vulnerable people…

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Community Keystones

Blog by Sean Cuff, Policy Fellow In early August, I interviewed CommunityCare Steward and long-time Larimer resident Tab Duckett outside his adopted lots near Thompson and Joseph Streets. He and his lawnmower have been fixtures of the community, and represent the outsized role neighbors have had to take on to keep their blocks maintained. He was born and raised in the neighborhood. In between at least ten horn honks, waves, and “hey there’s” with passersby, we talked about how the…

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Allegheny Mountains Lot Refresh

Join us for a workday in the Northside at Allegheny Mountains Lot at the intersection of California Avenue and Benton Avenue! This lot was damaged and needs repair so we are asking for volunteers to join us in restoring it to its former glory. As a part of the Grounded Strategies team, we will be getting our hands dirty with weeding, mulching, and general site refresh. Come ready to work in warm or cool weather. To sign up, please email…

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