We make owning a home in Wilkinsburg more accessible & equitable for community members

How it works

  • A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a patterned blazer and jewelry, sitting at a desk, writing on an old document with a decorative pen.

    1. Title Clearance

    WLB clears the title and becomes owner of the property making it available for homebuyers

  • A group of four people wearing hooded jackets holding yellow bags of groceries outdoors on a rainy day.

    2. Stabilization

    WLB carries out stabilization work needed and cleans up any debris, junk, pests and animals

  • A vintage black for sale sign in front of a blue Victorian house surrounded by pink flowering bushes and trees with a cloudy sky.

    3. House is listed

    House is listed and shown to first-time home buyers, small local contractors, or community-based redevelopers

  • Miniature model of a haunted Victorian house with a 'sold' sign in front, surrounded by fall foliage.

    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

A woman with long, curly hair, wearing a patterned blazer and pearl necklace, writing on a document with a gold-trimmed pen in a library or office setting.

WLB clears the title and becomes owner of the property making it available for homebuyers

Step 2. Stabilization

A man in a raincoat and gloves holding a yellow bag, smiling, with three people in the background also holding yellow bags, on a residential street.

WLB carries out stabilization work needed and cleans up any debris, junk, pests and animals

Step 3. House is listed

A weathered 'For Sale' sign post with flowers in the foreground and a blue Victorian house in the background on a partly cloudy day.

Depending on property condition , the house will be sold to 

  1. A first time home buyer looking for an affordable rehab with an affordable pricing cap set by the WLB

  2. 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

  3. A community based redeveloper with access to grant funding for houses that are too expensive to fix otherwise

Step 4. House is sold

Miniature blue Victorian house with a

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.

Colorful mural of a woman in a hat with animal print, a person with a thoughtful pose, and a person with a yellow ball on their head, all painted on a brick wall.
Colorful mural depicting diverse people engaging in cultural activities, including farming, traditional dancing, and community gathering, with vibrant patterns and greenery in the background.
Front view of a two-story brick house with a large porch, steps leading up to it, and fall leaves on the ground, surrounded by trees and neighboring houses.
Colorful mural painted on the underside of an overhang featuring two hands in a prayer or look-down gesture, with vibrant rays of colors and abstract patterns surrounding them.
Colorful mural of diverse faces, abstract designs, and nature elements on a large interior wall of a multi-story building.
A community event in a park with people gathering at outdoor stalls selling fresh vegetables and produce. There are trees, a mural on a building, and people socializing under umbrellas on a sunny day.
An old, abandoned three-story brick house with boarded-up and broken windows, a sagging porch, and overgrown weeds and grass in the front yard. Utility wires run across the front of the house, and a utility pole is on the right side.