Vacant Property Working Group

Vacant Property Working Group Minutes DRAFT January 9th, 2008 Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group

Attendees: A. Brose, BGC; K. Pelling, ELDI; B. Davidson, PCRG; S. Capperis, Councilman Dowd’s Office; T. Ceoffe, LU; D. D’Anna, MWCDC; Councilman Dowd; M. Eldridge, FCC; M. Ford, LC; K. Graziani, MO; J. Huck, NSLC; P. Johnson, CNNC; K. McGlynn, CDCP; G. Panza, MWCDC; C. Phelan, FDA;, M. Pasula, EACC; D. Simeone, WPP; D. Stewart, OPDC.

Co-chair Aggie Brose called the meeting to order at 9:12AM. Introductions were conducted.

Minutes from the December 2008 meeting were considered. Approved without revision. SC/PJ

Treasurer’s Sale and Land Reserve Report

a. September 26th 2008 Sale - No Revenue Applications received Hand Money and Promissory Notes Due 1/23 BBDC (1) CNNC (12) LC (1) BGC (1) ELDI (5) OPDC (1)

b. December 5th, 2008 Sale – Applications received and approved: Hand Money and Promissory Notes Due 3/20 BGC (5) LU (3) OPDC (1) WPP (3)

The revenue list was distributed – additional applications deadline is January 16th – URA approval by February 20th

Schedule for 2009 – info requests due today, January 9th. Applications due 1/16/09. No Schedule out yet, but proceeding as normal.

Land Reserve Administration Land Reserve Report was distributed and is now accessible online. There were no updates.

Update on GLS Re-Purchase GLS has removed their answer on the 75 parcels that were priority 1 and 2. Letters will be sent out from Mary Lou Tenenbaum in about one month letting groups know that they have free and clear title. Groups were advised to be prepared to close on any parcels that may be pas due and now have clear title.

Update on Name Search Function

1 The pilot program has only been used about 10 times since it began. Motion (TC/PJ) to thank the sponsors of the bill and go to county council and tell them to table the ordinance that is on hold on our behalf – passed.

T. Ceoffe reminded the groups that they can each pay the $75 per year to have immediate access at their office to this info.

Conservatorship PCRG is working with Rep Walko’s office to create a mall pilot program for this to get all involved parties educating and act as a repository of information for this program. Community groups should be thinking about potential pilot sites in their neighborhoods that may be good candidates for this. PCRG will be putting together an RFP for this. The pilot will include education of stakeholders on the process & steps, and working with local banks to garner interest in creating grant/loan pools for these projects.

The Mayor’s Office offered the potential assistance of the ACBA Real Property team – to provide the legal support.

The group discussed the major steps in the program: These are properties that are not candidates for ‘regular’ acquisition processes. Step 1 – basic property research Step 2 – connect with an attorney, look at feasibility, Step 3 - applying to be conservator with the courts Step 4 – can borrow funds to get it up to code, rehab, etc Step 5 – after 6 months, can enforce the lien and force property to a foreclosure sheriff’s sale, but the property is exposed to public sale at the end of the process. The conservator is made whole if the owner comes forth or there is another buyer. If the sale price is over and above the conservator’s value, then liens get paid off in order/priority.

ACTION – B. Davidson will be the point of contact to coordinate this. ACTION – B. Davidson will work with groups/city agencies to create a atrix/list of all existing property tools.

Jordan Tax Service With K. Graziani’s help, VPWG (BD/KP) had a meeting with M. Lanier on 1/8/09 Councilman Dowd’s office has been helpful and involved as chair of the intergovernmental cooperation committee. Where is this and How will this affect what we do? PWSA and the Pgh Public Schools approved the ICA recently. It has been introduced at County Council.

K. Pelling provided the groups with an overview of the current proposed contracts/agreements.

K. Graziani reminded the group that the Mayor’s Office attends the VPWG meetings to listen, and have heard a couple of big concerns and requested that we clarify and

2 document our concerns and please pass them along to the Mayor’s Office as soon as possible.

ACTION: VPWG will create a subcommittee and work to digest and go over in detail and then document and draft concerns and recommendations over the next 2-3 weeks.

New Business K. McGlynn from CDCP gave an introduction and offered the Resource Guide to groups to have a free listing in the guide. To be included, contact Kate at [email protected]. and the opportunity to have CDCP speak at your neighborhood mtg. will submit articles for newsletters, come to meetings, etc. Deadline – next Friday 1/16.

Announcements B. Davidson announced the sold-out Lunch and Learn and that there will be a follow-up due to high demand.

There was no other business and the meeting was adjourned at 10:30am. JH/MP

The next meeting will be Friday, February 13th at 9:00AM.

Respectfully Submitted, B. Davidson Staff, VPWG