A bill that would give redevelopment authorities the ability to better address blighted properties in Pennsylvania communities is on Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.
Senate Bill 667, sponsored by state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Fayette County, initially passed the Senate in July 2017 before being amended and unanimously passed in the House on June 6. The Senate unanimously passed the amended version a week later, sending it to Wolf, who is expected to sign it Tuesday.
“My administration is committed to addressing blight, and we have invested in community redevelopment that enhances that goal,” Wolf said in a statement to The Times. “This bill is an important step to help local communities more swiftly address blight, and I commend the bipartisan Blight Task Force for their continued dedication to this important cause.”
Under the bill, redevelopment authorities would have the same powers as land banks under the state’s Land Bank Act, allowing the authorities to acquire tax delinquent properties at judicial sales without competitive bidding.
Redevelopment authorities would also be allowed to discharge tax liens on blighted properties. Land banks are municipality-created entities used to acquire and rehabilitate blighted or abandoned properties, Stefano said in a co-sponsor memo, but many counties already have redevelopment authorities working on the problems.
“Unfortunately, blight is like a cancer that spreads rapidly through our neighborhoods and risks the safety and the economic vitality of the communities we serve,” Stefano said in June 13 comments on the Senate floor.
Stefano said that several communities in his district, which includes all of Fayette and Somerset counties and parts of Westmoreland County, have sought to form land banks to address blight, “but found the start-up costs and the recurring costs to maintain it too expensive.”
He said in most cases redevelopment authorities have “led the way” on tackling the issue.
Stefano’s bill empowering the authorities would also eliminate the need for communities to create new entities so they can avoid redundant and excessive costs.
“Blighted, abandoned properties pose a danger to the public, increase crime rates and reduce property values,” Stefano said last week. “This bill will offer another resource for municipalities with active redevelopment authorities to use in eliminating blight, rehabilitating properties and improving neighborhoods and communities while saving them money and avoid costly and timely duplication of services.”