Oct 5, 2016 2 min read

Washington County Redevelopment Authority spearheaded the formation of a land bank last winter, but only Charleroi Borough and school district have officially joined the county in the effort to return blighted or tax-delinquent property to the tax rolls.

In an attempt to make participation in the land bank more attractive, William McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority, told county commissioners Wednesday the land bank is lowering its fees for all, but Washington County’s largest communities.

The original land bank proposal called for all 66 municipalities to pay $3,000 to join. Now, this fee applies only to Washington, Monongahela, California, Canonsburg, Charleroi, Donora and the townships of Carroll, Cecil, Chartiers, Canton, Fallowfield, North Franklin, North Strabane, Peters, Smith, South Strabane and Union. The populations of these communities range from Charleroi’s 4,170 to Peters’ 19,800.

Communities of 2,000 to 4,000 residents, which includes 12 municipalities in Washington County, would pay $2,000 initially and $500 subsequently; 1,000 to 2,000 residents, which includes 17 municipalities, $1,000 initially and $250 subsequently; and municipalities of 1,000 people or fewer, which includes 20 municipalities, $500 initially and $100 subsequently.

“We think this is a good step,” McGowen told the board, adding later municipalities can collectively streamline the process rather than act individually.

A land bank has the capacity to negotiate a sale price for property before it is placed on the auction block at the annual judicial sale, which takes place each June. At a judicial sale, properties on which the owner owes back taxes are sold without local liens – erased by court order – although unpaid state and federal obligations remain. McGowen said the land bank may not be ready for this June because intergovernmental cooperation agreements must be signed, but it would be operating by the sale scheduled for 2017.

“We’re taking a more aggressive approach,” Washington Mayor Scott Putnam said recently of blight. “With the county starting a land bank, the City has the possibility to establish (its) own … or joining with the county land bank.”

The land bank board has one more meeting this year, either Nov. 7 or Dec. 12, in conjunction with redevelopment authority board meetings McGowen said. Inquiries about land-banking should be directed to Rob Phillips, assistant community development director with the redevelopment authority, 724-228-6875, ext. 220.

Natalie Reid Miller contributed to this story.