RESCHEDULED: PUBLIC HEARING ON LAND BANK BILL
Public Hearing on Proposed Land Bank Bill Rescheduled for Thursday, February 20th at 6pm
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
As per a prior communication our office sent out last week, City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
To review, key highlights in the bill include:
- The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
- The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council, or the community
- The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
- The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend the rescheduled Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 20, at 6pm in Council Chambers.
For those interested in participating and providing public comment, you must call to register before 2pm on the 20th at 412-255-2138.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle