Legislative Briefing: April 30, 2019

Senator Haywood speaks about his new bill to lift the funding cap on PHARE. Includes other updates on state and federal legislation.

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Johnstown council OKs compromise on fighting blight May 21 2019

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Share List From: Johnstown Tribune Democrat A rare compromise between two City Council factions has made $250,000 available to demolish blighted Johnstown building. Funding will come from about $1.2 million held in the city’s Urban Development Action Grant fund, which …more
Our Town Donates $10,000: Money Given to Land Bank Following Mayor Pacifico’s Request Mar 12 2019

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Share List Altoona Mirror Operation Our Town is donating $10,000 to the new Altoona land bank. The money could pay for acquisition of a “demonstration property” that would show how the land bank can put distressed real estate “back in the hands of …more
Council Mulls Code Ordinance Update Mar 5 2019

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Share List New Castle News New Castle city council introduced an ordinance to update rental property regulations and eliminate blight within the city during last week’s meeting. The proposed ordinance includes adoption of the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. The ordinance …more
Webinar: Ten Years of Conservatorship: Success, Challenges and Next Steps Feb 28 2019

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Share List Webinar: Ten Years of Conservatorship: Success, Challenges and Next Steps The Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act (Act 135) was enacted ten years ago. This webinar will examine the use and impact of conservatorship over the last …more
From Blight to Bright: Modern, Energy-Efficient Apartment Complex Replaces Deteriorated School in Roxbury Feb 26 2019

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Share List The Tribune-Democrat An etched stone sign still reads “Public School” at the corner of Roxbury Avenue and Sell Street. But now that sign serves as a gateway to a modern apartment building. Featuring 43 units, Roxbury Place is …more
Blair Funds to Tackle Blight Jan 29 2019

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Share List Altoona Mirror In September 2017, the costs of recording a mortgage and deed went up by $7.50 in Blair County to fund what commissioners said would be a revenue source to address blighted properties. Now that the fund …more
Erie Fights Blight Jan 22 2019

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Share List Go Erie From where Scott Henry sits — directing one of the lead agencies charged with controlling blight and razing dilapidated properties in the city of Erie — this year is almost certain to bring plenty of work …more
Mayfield Looks to County Land Bank for Help in Blight Fight Dec 12 2018

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Share List PA Homepage A small community in Lackawanna County is taking a new approach to fighting blight. Mayfield is planning to join the Lackawanna County Land Bank program to help cut down on its number of rundown property issues. The …more
Erie Land Bank Gets $414,000 to Combat Blight Nov 27 2018

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Share List For the first time since its launch more than two years ago, the city of Erie’s land bank has the money it needs to combat blight. A first-of-its-kind cooperative agreement approved by Erie County government’s land bank in …more
How to Fund Land Banks Nov 20 2018

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Share List Shelterforce recently published an article detailing how land banks across the country fund their activities. While many former industrial cities and rural communities have struggled with systemic vacancy and abandonment for decades, the 2008 housing crisis wrecked neighborhoods …more

Categories: Blight & Land Banks

Revitalizing PA: Success Stories & New Priorities

Categories: Blog, State News

State Housing Tax Credit (SB 1185) Introduced

Categories: Blog, Homelessness

Long Road Between Survival, Stability for Suburban Homeless

From: U.S.

Categories: Blight & Land Banks, Blog

Johnstown council OKs compromise on fighting blight

From: Johnstown Tribune Democrat A rare compromise between two City Council factions has made $250,000 available to demolish blighted Johnstown building. Funding will come from about $1.

Categories: Blog, National News

HUD immigrant plan could displace 55K children

From: Politico A plan by HUD to end housing assistance for undocumented immigrants would displace more than 55,000 children who are U.S.

Categories: Blog, Homeownership

Philly expands down-payment assistance program that will give $10,000 to first-time home buyers

From: Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia officials on Thursday afternoon announced the expansion of a program that will give first-time home buyers and other eligible city residents up to $10,000 when they purchase a home in the city. The revamped program, called Philly First Home, is expected to launch in June and aims to help make homeownership more affordable as the city sees its most robust building boom to date.

Categories: Blog, Inclusive Communities

Poverty Is a Bigger Problem Than Gentrification

From: Bloomberg [A]lthough gentrification displaces a few low-income minority Americans, this isn’t a widespread phenomenon, and it isn’t leading to re-segregation — if anything, it appears to be modestly reversing the effects of white flight. Of course, rising housing costs are still a burden for those who aren’t displaced, which is part of a more general crisis of affordability in the country’s more desirable cities.

Categories: Blog, Inclusive Communities

Commentary: How We Can Turn Housing Mobility Into Economic Opportunity

From: Governing There is growing evidence that housing mobility can help families move up the economic ladder, especially if tackled at a regional scale. And Congress is taking notice.

Categories: Blog, community development

Can a federal tax break spur equitable development in distressed communities?

From: WESA A new federal tax shelter could kickstart a wave of investment in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. At a forum hosted by the Hill Community Development Corporation last Friday, opportunity zones were hailed as catalytic, transformative and lucrative.

Legislative Briefing: April 30, 2019

Legislative Briefing: April 30, 2019

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