Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG)
Vacant Property Working Group (VPWG)
Minutes: Friday, September 12th, 2014
Attendance (23): ENusser, LC; JEash, MWCDC; THardy, ACCA; JRichter, HI, GHCC; KPelling, ELDI; CBruder, CPgh; TDolan, HA; KBrown, D7;
ESing, GTECH; SLove, GHCC; LLove, GHCC; RGermany, LCG; DLeyden, NSLC, JHuck, NSLC, SKane, UPP, MSmith, HCDC; SDanko+Day, CPgh, ZLockrem, AR; LD, BA; ABrose, BGC, BDavidson, PCRG
Welcome and Introductions: The meeting was called to order by chair ABrose at 9:05am. Introductions were conducted.
Approval of minutes: Minutes were not provided and thus were held until the next meeting.
Land Acquisition:
The group reviewed the immediate past and upcoming Treasurer’s Sales Activity and Property Reserve Report.
Staff will follow-up on:
LC-5143 Dresden
HCDC-Typo in all names (HCDH)
Title Reports are backlogged, leading to longer Quiet Title timelines. The group is suggesting additional title report companies, additional staff (understanding the need to find additional resources), and an understanding as to if PPR properties are still being considered ‘3rd Tier’ priorities, after City/private and URA parcels.
The City is also experiencing issues with the Post office. The group would like to have the field of ‘title company’ permanently added to the report.
ACTION: staff/chair will address this at the next Property Reserve Committee meeting.
Groups are being encouraged to attend Treasurer’s sales as more properties are selling at sale so that they can either counter bid and/or understand who is purchasing properties in their neighborhood.
Groups were given notice that the City will be sending out delinquency letters, including outstanding code citations. As it stands, these issues must be addressed to be eligible for future Property Reserve activity.
Finance Director, Paul Leger, attended the most recent PRC meeting to inform VPWG that the Law Department has interpreted Regulation 6 in a manner that requires additional notice to neighboring land owners of vacant lots (not structures) immediately before sale of the parcel. All current PPR parcels will be grandfathered in.
GLS Update: No changes to the list. Groups are encouraged to contact Cheryl Bauer at Bernstein Law Firm if they wish to pay off their GLS lien.
City Land Bank
The interim board continues to meet. Staff and other community representatives have been attending. PCRG is holding off its grant deployment until there is a clear understanding of the work plan of the interim board. PCRG will be sending letters to the interim board and city regarding offers of assistance and encouraging specific next steps.
Condemnation:
The group requested that we re-visit regular condemnation and demolition lists as we stopped getting them in November. Staff will work on this, as well as making sure that the lists are consistent with BBI data.
Vacant Lot Tool Kit
The City has engaged the consulting firm of Asakura Robinson to create the VLTK for the City of Pittsburgh. Project Manager, Zakcq Lockram, was in attendance to introduce himself and listen to the discussion.
Objectors:
CeCe Bruder from the City of Pittsburgh Law Department was in attendance to provide the group a detailed explanation of the various objectors processes and rules and to answer questions. Those notes will be provided separately.
Updates/New Business
The Local Data Collaborative will be holding its next meeting coming up. If anyone wished to participate, they should contact Evaine Sing of GTECH Strategies.
Adjournment: There was no more business and the meeting adjourned at 11:00am (First: TDolan. SecondSKane.)