Land bank moves to sell more vacant properties to developers for affordable housing.

Instead of continuing trying to sell properties one lot at a time, the Pittsburgh Land Bank might start selling property in bundles.

 Land Bank Director Sally Stadelman spoke at council’s April 8 committee meeting about a second pilot for its residential rehab program.

Up until now the land bank has been selling properties directly to owner-occupants. Now it is looking to market the properties to developers and contractors. Stadelman said the intention is to return the properties back to the market around the same price as subsidized affordable homes, usually between $160,000-220,000. “We’re trying to at least prioritize applicants that are willing to commit to selling to owner-occupants once the property is rehabbed,” Stadelman said.

Stadelman requested council’s approval to acquire two bundles of publicly owned property. The first bundle, in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, came to the land bank’s attention during a community walkthrough of properties owned by the city’s three taxing bodies. Of approximately a dozen properties in the community, only five were salvageable with stabilization.

“The condition of these structures is tough,” she said. “A couple of the structures, we’ll probably replace all of the floor joists on the first floor, for example, and they need new roofs.”

The bundle did not list a designated buyer.

The second transfer, 14 lots and one structure in Homewood, is intended for purchase by WNT Daniels Development Group, which has been rehabilitating and building affordable housing in Homewood, Wilkinsburg and has plans in Larimer.

Stadelman said the land bank recently received a $1 million state grant to stabilize 22 houses before they are sold.

 “I’m really hoping that we see some success, and then we can implement this model in other neighborhoods as well,” she said.

Council agreed to move forward with both requests.