77. It should be named: Structure and Land Revitalization Bank

LAND BANK?
"Land bank" is a stupid name for a catalyst for revitalization. That's the misleading name applied to a government administrative procedure that can effect community revitalization, reinvigoration, restoration. ( If I were Johnny Cash, I would sing, " And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name himm... Bill or George! Anything but Sue.") But, "Land bank" is what the appellation is. How about calling it "THE STRUCTURE AND LAND REVITALIZATION BANK?

A land bank must conform to the provisions of Act 153 of 2012 (HB 1682), 68 Pa. CS. Sections 2101 et.seq. The authorizing ordinance for a land bank is reviewed by the Department of Community Affairs (DCED). DCED has an annual audit oversight of a land bank. As the land bank is an entity with the authority to contract, the land bank's name is registered with the Department of State. A land bank can sue and be sued in its own name and be a party in a civil action, including an action to clear title to a land bank. The land bank can enter into contracts and other instruments necessary, incidental or convenient to the performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers. A land bank can and should create a hierarchical ranking of priorities such as owner occupied houses, affordable housing architectural preservation as part of rehabilitation, open public land, public space, conservation area, etc. 

While land bank may borrow and issue bonds, a municipality can bootstrap a land bank. For example, a land bank can begin by purchasing all or some properties on a list published by the Mercer County Tax Claim Bureau as being eligible for a private tax sale. It is the cheapest way to go. 

Funding of the land bank would come from sale proceeds or rental income. Once acquired by the private tax sale method, The school district and County by provisions of the Land Bank Act forego half of their real estate tax base that is restored through land bank revitalization as a funding stream for the land bank. Such a funding stream can not exceed five years.

76 A Miracle on Third Avenue?

A Miracle on Third Avenue in Sharon, PA on 12/20/19. A grant combined with tax incentivized private funds will fund demolition of abandoned and blighted houses. The resulting vacant lots will be managed through a program that will be called “Lots to Love.” The vacant lots may be bought or adopted. If adopted, the lot will be cut and maintained by the person committing to the adoption. The local Community Action Partnership of Mercer County PA will administer the  “Lots to Love” program. Local middle school students have developed an app to be used in association with house demolition to keep track of the grass height of vacant lots and be a basis to manage City Beautification Commission assets.

Assemblyman Mark Longietti and Pennsylvania Commonwealth Secretary Department Community and Economic Development, Dennis Daven on Third Avenue. Announce revitalization efforts for Sharon, PA 12/20/19.

Sharon community spark plug and catalyst, Karen Winner-Sed on Third Avenue with Assemblyman Longietti.

On Third Avenue at 224, an abandoned and blighted house will be demolished in 2020 using scarce grant funding from the DCED Department Of Commnunity and Economic Development and private funding that has tax incentives.

Typical of Sharon, the deteriorated properties are like a random checkerboard pattern. On Third Avenue to the right of 224 is 218. It has a new roof and It looks as if it has maintained and shrubbery trimmed and grooms grass. The owner says he has been there for 55 years and he looks forward for 224 to be a vacant lot.

Here is the long time Sharon resident of the house at 218. His well maintained house, is  a Third Avenue story of responsibility.

School Teacher D. Tomko with some of the students who have helped create an app to manage the condition and status of properties and lots for management of grass, weeds and scrub growth. The students have built upon the 2018 mapping by some 80 volunteers who on a September Saturday using smartphones surveyed 5700 houses in Sharon. The resulting GIS map data is the foundation information for planning revitalization.

The students pose in on Third Avenue in front of 217. It is abandoned and blighted. Its owner has 152 other structures in Sharon. Sadly some 40 or more by this owner were identified by volunteer map surveyors in 2018 as being either abandoned or in poor condition. Pennsylvania trespass law provides for a defense to trespass that the trespass happened in an abandoned structure. 271 could easily be the site for squatters or persons bent upon criminal activity. The TRESPASS LAW contributes to community decline as it is written.

The City of Sharon's Community Development guru is Melissa Phillips seen here being interviewed on Third Avenue. She along the the members of City Council, the City Manager, Code Enforcement staff are going to correct the abandoned and blighted property problem in Sharon in the coming years. Some 690 houses are candidates for demolition. It is a big job that will get done in the forthcoming couple of years.



















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