Issue: Blight

Image Credit: “20050604 42 Wilkinsburg, PA” by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Neglected properties can become safety hazards and sources of frustration for communities. Buildings sitting around without purpose day after day are missed economic and human service opportunities. Abigail saw this first-hand in her five years as a Swissvale borough council member.

In her first term as Pennsylvania State Representative for our district (District 34), she:

• Introduced a bill that would update current property law to allow communities to make vacant blighted or abandoned properties subject to potential acquisition by land banks. Owners of such properties would be granted a set amount of time to make the repairs needed to reverse the designation and could appeal the designation.
• Facilitated a Municipal Assistance Program grant to the borough of Churchill for the updating of the borough’s zoning ordinances. This is paving the way for vacant industrial properties to be converted into new homes for local businesses, organizations and more.
• Helped secure more than $1 million in tax credits awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program to support community projects for affordable housing, revitalization, and human services programs. This included:
  • $400,000 in tax credits to Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. to support efforts to strengthen the Central Business District, improve quality of life for residents, and continue attracting new homeowners and businesses.
  • $265,875 in tax credits to Enterprise Zone Corp. of Braddock to support projects to fight blight, continue neighborhood development, attract and assist new tech firms, and access capital for area businesses.
  • $160,000 in tax credits to Mon Valley Initiative to expand affordable housing, including completion of the Braddock Church Residences mixed-income apartments.
  • $52,500 to Hosanna House Inc., to support a project to help build wealth for low- and moderate-income residents and avoid displacement of existing renters who would be Wilkinsburg homebuyers. The project entails the purchase, repair and sale of two to three properties, which will reduce housing costs by supporting a larger down payment ability of first-time buyers to avoid private mortgage insurance.
  • Proposed H.B. 1216, a bill aimed at supporting communities without grant writing capabilities. The bill aims to establish a Municipal Grant Assistance Program under the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This program would offer eligible municipalities access to complimentary grant writing assistance when applying for state funding and guide crafting future grant proposals.