Pittsburgh halts discounted vacant land sales program

Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to halt a program that allows property owners to buy vacant city-owned properties for a steep discount.

The Side Yard Sale Program allows property owners to purchase certain vacant, city-owned parcels that sit adjacent to their own for $200.

But City Council on Tuesday put an indefinite pause on the program amid a dispute over whether the program should be restricted only to homeowners, leaving out landlords or corporations that hold land.

Councilwoman Deb Gross in August introduced legislation that would make the discounted land available only to homeowners who live in the abutting properties. Some council members argued they didn’t want to see other potential owners pushed away.

Gross said the program was initially designed for homeowners to expand their own properties. She has criticized allowing landlords or investors to buy properties at a price so low the city loses money on the sales.

Officials have not been able to provide estimates of how many properties have been sold through the program or how many are eligible.

Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, on Tuesday called Gross’s proposal “discrimination against landlords.”

He and others also pointed out that if properties stay in the city’s inventory, the city can’t collect any tax on them and the city has to pay for maintenance.

City Council on Tuesday was divided over whether to stop the program. Gross joined Council members Khari Mosley, D-Point Breeze, Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, and R. Daniel Lavelle, D-Hill District, in supporting the stoppage.

Council members Bob Charland, D-South Side, Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End and Coghill voted against halting it.

An amendment approved Tuesday will allow the approximately 10 applications already working through the process to proceed. New applications will not be accepted.

The Side Yard Sale Program allowed neighboring property owners to buy city-owned lots that are no larger than 5,000 square feet. Deed restrictions bar people from developing properties purchased through the program, but the lands could be used to expand yards, plant gardens, build decks or install swimming pools.

Land can still be purchased from the city at full cost.