About

Our Purpose

Vacant, abandoned, and deteriorating properties are pervasive, expensive, and have damaging effects on the economic and social fabric of communities. Vacancy results in  high maintenance costs, nuisance issues such as crime and fire, and uncollected taxes. This creates a cycle of disinvestment with the ultimate cost paid by existing community residents.

Direct Costs

  • Code enforcement
  • Police and fire
  • Public works
  • Demolition
  • Loss of tax revenues

Indirect Costs

  • Decreased property values
  • Lack of investment
  • Neighborhood perception
Financial Impact Analysis of Blight, Delta Development Group, 2013.

Effects on Real Estate by the numbers

23.7% properties in Allegheny County fall within 150 feet of a vacant, abandoned, and deteriorating structure.

These properties can decrease the value of other properties that are within 150 feet by 15-17%.

Cycle of Disinvestment

Eliminating vacant, abandoned, and deteriorating properties

Increases tax revenues

Improves the health of residents

Reduces crime, in particular gun-related violence

Can raise surrounding property values up to 30% simply by greening a vacant lot

Anti-Racism Statement

Historically and presently, communities of color face discrimination and legal barriers that make it harder to own property. Tri-COG Land Bank recognizes the systemic racism present in our region and seeks to addresses inequity by creating new pathways to property ownership and stabilizing communities that historically and presently experience disinvestment. TCLB commits to continually evaluate our institutional practices and identify areas we can improve to contribute to a just and equitable society.