House advances bill that would address city blight

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently advanced a bill that would give local redevelopment authorities greater ability to combat neighborhood blight and the same powers granted to land banks in the Pennsylvania Land Bank Act.

Land banks are independent public entities created by municipalities to expedite the process of acquiring and rehabilitating abandoned, dilapidated and blighted properties.

Under the bill, redevelopment authorities would be able to discharge tax liens on blighted properties. They also would be able to share up to 50 percent of property taxes for five years after conveyance of authority-owned property.

“Blighted, abandoned properties pose a danger to the public, increase crime rates and reduce property values,” Sen. Pat Stefano (R- Connellsville) said. “This legislation will give communities a valuable tool to effectively fight blight, which is becoming a growing problem in many areas of the state.”

Land banks have fought blight, Stefano said, but many counties have had redevelopment authorities since 1945.

Blight has been very problematic in his Stefano’s district, he said. Local municipalities often find blight challenging to deal with it, he said, and blight reduces property values, increases crime rates and endangers the public.

The bill is now under Senate review.