Wilkinsburg Land Bank
We make owning a home in Wilkinsburg more accessible & equitable for community members
How it works
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1. Title Clearance
WLB clears the title and becomes owner of the property making it available for homebuyers
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2. Stabilization
WLB carries out stabilization work needed and cleans up any debris, junk, pests and animals
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3. House is listed
House is listed and shown to first-time home buyers, small local contractors, or community-based redevelopers
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4. House is sold
Depending on property condition, the house will be sold to a first time home buyer, a local contractor, or a community based redeveloper
Step 1. Title Clearance
WLB clears the title and becomes owner of the property making it available for homebuyers
Step 2. Stabilization
WLB carries out stabilization work needed and cleans up any debris, junk, pests and animals
Step 3. House is listed
Depending on property condition , the house will be sold to
A first time home buyer looking for an affordable rehab with an affordable pricing cap set by the WLB
A small local contractor who will rehab the property and sell to specifically a first time home buyer with an affordable pricing cap set by the WLB
A community based redeveloper with access to grant funding for houses that are too expensive to fix otherwise
Step 4. House is sold
The last step in the process is the creation of a new owner in Wilkinsburg by selling the house, thus getting one more house back on the tax rolls. Whether directly to a first-time home-buyer or with a contractor in between, the ultimate disposition will be to a new home-owner in Wilkinsburg.
What is a land bank?
A Land Bank is an innovative organization, established locally and enabled by state laws, dedicated exclusively to transforming neglected, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties into valuable assets. These properties, deteriorating and vacant, negatively impact the value of surrounding homes and hinder the vitality of the local real estate market. Land Banks proactively address this issue by offering the community a means to get title to these properties and get them into the hands of a new owner, to counteract the adverse effects of urban decay. Land Banks specialize in revitalizing properties that are deemed too damaged, of too little value, or too encumbered by environmental, legal, or financial complications for private sector restoration. Through the strategic efforts of Land Banks, what were once liabilities become beneficial assets, contributing positively to the community and the local economy.
What does the land bank do?
Land Banks empower aspiring property owners to make meaningful investments in their communities. Their mission is to streamline the process for responsible parties—whether they are developers, community organizations, local residents, farmers, gardeners, or anyone looking to support the revitalization of their community —to rejuvenate neglected and abandoned properties, reintroducing them to the market and restoring their tax-contributing status. By doing so, Land Banks break the persistent cycle of vacancy, neglect, and tax foreclosure, transforming problem properties into productive, revenue-generating assets that enhance neighborhoods.
