Side Lot Development

There are many abandoned vacant lots throughout our Allegheny County neighborhoods. To care for these lots and steward them out of abandonment, the Tri-COG Land Bank offers adjacent homeowners the opportunity to expand their yard through our Side Lot Development Program. When a TCLB-owned lot is located next to another house, that homeowner has the ability to purchase the lot for a below-market price. It’s a win-win: the property gets an owner who will care for it, while the new owner gets more space to run, play, or garden!

Side lots must be less than .25 acres in size and clear of any primary structures.

Eligibility: Side Lot Program participants must be owner occupied property owners or equitable owners of the property directly adjacent to the side lot. An equitable owner is a person who is not the owner of record but who can demonstrate an ownership interest in the property as provided by law. An equitable owner includes, but it not limited to, a person who has inherited an interest in the property.

TCLB General Eligibility Criteria applies to the Side Lot Development Program.

Side Lot Application Process

NOTE: Offers to purchase a Land Bank owned property will not be reviewed until the Land Bank receives a complete Application, including any documents required to be submitted with the Application and payment of the Application Fee.  Completed offers will be reviewed in the order that they are received by the Land Bank.  Although offer amount is an important aspect of the application, and you should therefore make your highest and best offer to the Land Bank, the property use, redevelopment/rehabilitation plan (if applicable), and other aspects of the Application will also be considered by the Land Bank.  Additional information may be requested by the Land Bank. The highest offer amount does NOT guarantee the transfer of a property and submitting an Application does not guarantee approval to purchase a property.  The approval of an Application and transfer of the property shall be at the sole discretion of the Land Bank.  Please contact us for any additional questions or concerns about acquiring Land Bank properties.