Fill - Free fillable 1. This application should be used to apply (Borough of Wilkinsburg) PDF form

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Application Instructions (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 1

1. This application should be used to apply for properties located in participating municipalities in

which at least 51 percent of households are low to moderate income. As of the date of this

application, this includes the following municipalities, but is subject to change: Braddock,

Clairton, Coraopolis, East Pittsburgh, Etna, Glassport, Homestead, McKees Rocks, Mount

Oliver, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Rankin, Sharpsburg, Stowe, Tarentum, Verona, Wall,

Wilkinsburg, and Wilmerding.

2. The following items must be submitted with an application for it to be considered complete:

 Application Form: Must be signed and dated by all applicants. Must be fully completed,

including the proposed re-use plan and estimated costs to acquire and develop the property.

 Proof of Financing: Can include a bank statement, letter from a bank, letter of credit/line of

credit, etc. Must be sufficient to cover the estimated costs to acquire and develop the property.

 Photographs: A minimum of two color photographs of the exterior of the existing site.

 Conflict of Interest Form: Must be completed, signed, and dated by all applicants. The

Municipal Official does not need to sign this form before the application is submitted.

 All Information Required per the Parcels with Existing/Future Structures Policy (if

applicable)

 Proof of Programming for General Public (if the applicant is a Faith Based Organization):

Must submit proof that programming is available to the general public that does not

proselytize.

3. No payments are required at the time of application. Please do not submit the Good Faith

Deposit or any other payment with your application.

4. Additional information will be requested if the applicant is a corporation, trust, partnership,

limited liability corporation, or nonprofit.

5. Applications should be mailed to the following address. Applications will not be accepted via e-

mail or fax.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program

One Chatham Center, Suite 900

112 Washington Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

6. Applicants should contact (412)350-1090 with any questions about the Program.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

VACANT PROPERTY RECOVERY PROGRAM

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Program Guidelines (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 2

All applicants should carefully review the Program Guidelines outlined below. Please contact

(412)350-1090 with questions about the Program or application.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for the Program, applicants:

 Must be current on taxes, water, sewage, and refuse bills on all properties owned in

Allegheny County.

 Must not have any outstanding code violations or municipal liens on properties owned in

Allegheny County.

PROPERTY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications are subject to all requirements under the Program policies. Property eligibility will be

determined on a case by case basis based upon consideration of a variety of factors related to blight.

To be eligible for the Program, a property must at a minimum meet all preliminary eligibility

requirements, including:

 Be a vacant lot or vacant structure.

 Have at least three years of tax delinquency.

 Be located in a participating municipality.

The following additional requirements generally apply:

 Properties must be less than one acre in size.

 Applicants may apply for no more than two vacant lots or vacant structures to be demolished

in any three-year period.

 Applicants may apply for only one vacant structure to be rehabilitated at a time and must

successfully complete the rehabilitation before applying for another vacant structure to be

rehabilitated.

 Applicants must own a parcel that contains a principal structure, such as a residence,

business, etc., and shares a common boundary with the property they are applying to

acquire. Exceptions to this may include applications to rehabilitate a vacant structure, such

as a residence or business, and applications from a non-profit, community-based, or

government organization that will have a public or community benefit.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

VACANT PROPERTY RECOVERY

PROGRAM

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

TIMELINE FOR PAYMENT AND ACQUISITION

Applications will be pre-screened for completeness and applicant and property eligibility. Failure to

fill out all sections of the application or provide all requested documentation will delay this process.

Substantially incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant and not considered for the

Program. Applicants may be contacted if items are missing or additional information is required and

given a deadline for submission of all materials, after which their application will be terminated.

Once an application is determined complete, it will undergo a review process that typically takes a

minimum of four months. Thereafter, the applicant will be sent a Conditional Agreement of Sale

that outlines the terms and conditions of the sale of the property, including the associated costs. The

applicant must return the signed Conditional Agreement of Sale and payment for the appraised

value, good faith deposit, and parcel fee (as applicable) in order for the acquisition process to begin.

If RAAC receives another application for the same property at any point prior to the execution of

the Conditional Agreement of Sale, RAAC will review the subsequent application in accordance

with the Program’s policies and determine whether RAAC will proceed with one of the applications

or decline to proceed with any application. In the event RAAC receives two or more applications

from abutting property owners proposing to use the property for a side yard, parking, or similar use

and RAAC has not yet executed a Conditional Agreement of Sale with an applicant for the property,

RAAC will close all applications for the property and provide the applicants the opportunity to

prepare a mutually agreeable, feasible plan and submit a new application to RAAC. Once a

Conditional Agreement of Sale has been executed for a property, RAAC will not consider other

applications for the same property.

After the applicant returns the signed Conditional Agreement of Sale and payment for the appraised

value, good faith deposit, and parcel fee (as applicable), it typically takes a minimum of five months

until closing. This time may vary based upon a number of factors. Applicants are responsible for all

closing costs, such as transfer taxes, real estate taxes for the current year, recording fees, and

closing fees. These costs are due at the time of closing. Applicants may elect to purchase title

insurance at an additional cost.

COMPLETION OF PLANS

After RAAC conveys a property to an applicant, the applicant will have a pre-determined amount of

time to complete the plans for the property that the applicant specified in Section III of the

application and/or any other supplemental materials. Applicants are responsible for contacting

RAAC upon completion of their plans. Thereafter, RAAC will inspect the property and if the plans

were completed, RAAC will record a Certificate of Completion.

RAAC reserves the right to take back a property in the event that an applicant fails to complete the

plans within the agreed upon period of time. RAAC would not reimburse the applicant for any costs

incurred acquiring the property or making improvements to it.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Program Guidelines (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 3

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Program Guidelines (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 4

PRODUCTS AND PRICING STRUCTURE

This pricing structure applies to properties located in municipalities in which at least 51 percent of

households are low to moderate income, according to the most recent data available from the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development. This pricing structure is subject to the availability of

funding and the discounts below are limited to one property per applicant in any three-year period.

PRODUCT

REQUIREMENTS

(In addition to all other eligibility

requirements)

COST TO APPLICANT

Side Yard to

Owner-

Occupied

Primary

Residence

 Must share a common boundary with the

parcel on which the applicant’s primary

residence is located

 Must be a vacant lot or a vacant structure

that will be demolished by the applicant

 Must have at least 3 years of unpaid taxes

and meet any other applicable criteria

related to blight

• 50% of the appraised value

• Parcel fee of $3,000 will be waived

• Good faith deposit of $166.75 or 10% of

the appraised value for properties valued

over $2,000

• Closing costs, which average $500

Demolition of

Blighted

Structure

 Must share a common boundary with a

parcel owned by the applicant that

contains a primary structure, such as a

residence or business

 Must be a vacant structure that will be

demolished by the applicant

 Must have at least 3 years of unpaid taxes

and meet any other applicable criteria

related to blight

• 100% of the appraised value

• Parcel fee of $3,000 will be waived

• Good faith deposit of $166.75 or 10% of

the appraised value for properties valued

over $2,000

• Closing costs, which average $500

Rehabilitation

of Blighted

Structure

 Must be a vacant structure that will be

rehabilitated by the applicant

 Must have at least 3 years of unpaid taxes

and meet any other applicable criteria

related to blight

• 100% of the appraised value

• Parcel fee will be discounted to $1,400

• Good faith deposit of $166.75 or 10% of

the appraised value for properties valued

over $2,000

• Closing costs, which average $500

Other Types of

Applications

 Vacant lot or vacant structure

 Must have at least 3 years of unpaid taxes

and meet any other applicable criteria

related to blight

• 100% of the appraised value

• Parcel fee of $3,000

• Good faith deposit of $166.75 or 10% of

the appraised value for properties valued

over$2,000

• Closing costs, which average $500

1 The applicant may elect to purchase title insurance at an additional cost.

2 In some cases, the cost of parcel acquisition could exceed the standard costs of $3,000 per parcel. Should such

circumstances arise, applicants will be notified of the anticipated additional expenses they would be responsible for and

will decide whether they wish to proceed.

3 The good faith deposit is refundable less a recording fee if the applicant carries out their project plan within the

timeframe outlined in their Conditional Agreement of Sale. The recording fee is $166.75 as of the date of this

application, but is subject to change.

4 Pricing for a non-profit, community-based organization, or municipality will be determined on a case by case basis

based upon the proposed re-use of the property.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Program Guidelines (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 5

PARCELS WITH EXISTING/FUTURE STRUCTURES POLICY

Applicants for a property that has or will have a structure on it will personally assume all

responsibilities associated with the demolition, rehabilitation, or construction of the structure,

including but not limited to all financial and legal responsibilities. Applicants are responsible for

ensuring that their plan adheres to all local zoning and building code requirements.

Applicants must demonstrate that they will be able to successfully implement their proposed plan

for the structure through the submission of a detailed scope of work, project budget, proof of

financial capacity, and information regarding their relevant experience and/or capacity to manage

the project.

The applicant’s plans for the property must address both the exterior and interior of the property.

RAAC is unable to authorize applicants to enter any property, and so the applicant would be

purchasing the property as is and without seeing the interior. Interior rehabilitation plans should

address all major building systems and the general categories of repair that a vacant structure would

likely require.

At a minimum, the following materials are required, depending upon the applicant’s plan:

PLAN

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Demolition

 Demolition quote from a registered contractor that addresses at a minimum the

building, foundation, debris removal, grading and/or seeding, and any necessary

permits.

 Proof of financing available to pay for the demolition such as a bank statement,

a letter of credit/line of credit, etc.

 A letter from the municipality stating that the structure constitutes a health

and/or safety hazard.

Rehabilitation/

New

Construction

 A detailed rehabilitation or construction plan for the work necessary to bring

the property up to code and obtain an occupancy permit, including:

o the specific exterior and interior work that will be performed;

o who will be performing it (the applicant or a contractor); and

o itemized cost estimates, including labor and materials.

 Schematic plans, if the applicant is proposing new construction.

 Bids or quotes as applicable.

 Proof of financing available to pay for the rehabilitation or construction, such as

a bank statement, a letter of credit/line of credit, etc.

 Information that demonstrates that the applicant has the capacity to undertake

the project, including but not limited to:

o a list of previous projects completed (to be made available for inspection

upon request) and a description of the applicant’s role in those projects;

o information about the applicant’s knowledge of local building codes,

zoning requirements, housing quality standards, etc.;

o references; and

o other relevant information as requested by RAAC.

 If the applicant proposes to undertake any portion of the work him/herself, the

applicant must provide evidence of the experience and capacity to do so.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Application (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 1

Please submit the complete application and all required supporting documentation to the address

below. Applications will not be accepted via fax or e-mail. Failure to submit all required

information may result in termination of the application.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program - Applications

One Chatham Center, Suite 900

112 Washington Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

SECTION 1: PROPERTY INFORMATION

Address

Block and Lot # (Parcel ID)

Condition

_____ Vacant Lot ____ Vacant Structure

Approximate Size (in square feet)

Assessed value

Has the property been tax delinquent for at

least 3 years?

___ Yes ___ No ___ Unknown

Are you related to the record owner of the

property?

___ Yes (Please Specify_____________) ___ No

SECTION 2: APPLICANT INFORMATION

Legal Name of Applicant(s)

(The name of each individual or the

organization applying for the property, as it

should appear on all legal documents)

Address of Applicant

(Street Address, City, State and Zip)

Name of Contact Person

Telephone Number of Contact Person

Home: Other:

Email Address (optional)

Do you currently own property that shares

a common boundary with the subject

property?

Yes: ___ Homeowner Occupant

___ Business

___ Residential Rental Property

___ Other (Please specify ______________)

No: ___

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

VACANT PROPERTY RECOVERY

PROGRAM

APPLICATION

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Application (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 2

Please identify the address and Block and

Lot number of all property that you own

in Allegheny County, including property

owned individually, jointly, or owned by

any entity (LLC, corporation,

partnership, etc.) in which you have an

interest.

If the applicant is an entity, a request for additional information will follow.

SECTION 3: REUSE/DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Type of Application

___ Side Yard to Primary Residence

___ Demolition of Blighted Structure

___ Rehabilitation of Blighted Structure

___ Other

Please describe the current condition of

the property.

How will you use the property (ex. side

yard, residential rental property, etc.)?

Please be specific.

If you own abutting property, how does

your proposed re-use relate to that

property?

Describe any changes or improvements

you will make to the condition of the

property. Please be specific.

If the property has or will have a structure

on it, you must also submit all information

outlined in the attached Parcels with

Existing/Future Structures Policy.

What are the estimated costs of these

improvements?

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their plan adheres to all local zoning, property

maintenance, and building code requirements and should contact the municipality in advance

to determine the applicable requirements. Applicants may be required to provide information

about these requirements as part of the application process.

Depending upon the applicant’s proposed plan, applicants may be required to submit

supplemental information, such as bids or quotes, schematic plans, and information about

relevant experience.

Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program – Application (LMA), 1/22/18

Page 3

SECTION 4: ESTIMATED PURCHASE PRICE

1, 2

(The purpose of this section is to ensure that applicants fully understand the pricing structure of

the Program. Amounts listed in the section will be estimates only, and will not determine the actual

costs of property acquisition. Please refer to the attached “Products and Pricing Structure”. )

Applicant’s Share of Appraised Value

 Side Yard Abutting Applicant’s Primary Residence: 50% of appraised value

 Demolition of Blighted Structure: 100% of appraised value

 Rehabilitation of Blighted Structure: 100% of appraised value

 All Other Applications: 100% of appraised value

Estimate the applicant’s share of the appraised value based upon information

such as recent comparable sales, the current assessed value of the property, etc.

Good Faith Deposit

$166.75 or 10 percent of the estimated appraised value of the property

for properties valued over $2,000.00

Parcel Fee

 Side Yard Abutting Applicant’s Primary Residence: WAIVED

 Demolition of Blighted Structure: WAIVED

 Rehabilitation of Blighted Structure: $1,400.00

 All Other Applications: $3,000.00

Closing Costs

Average of $500.00

$ 500.00

Estimated Total Purchase Price

The Pricing Structure is subject to the availability of funding.

Applicants may elect to purchase title insurance at an additional cost.

SECTION 5: FINANCING

How will you fund the purchase of the property and

implementation of your reuse plan (e.g. personal funds, line of

credit, etc.)? Please attach documentation of sufficient funds.

I hereby attest that the above written information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I have

received, reviewed, and understand the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program’s “Applicant

Eligibility Requirements,” “Property Eligibility Requirements,” “Timeline for Payment and Acquisition,”

“Products and Pricing Structure,” and “Parcels with Existing/Future Structures Policy,” and agree to abide

by these policies. I understand that failure to submit all required information may result in the termination

of my application. I understand that the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County (RAAC) may share

my application materials and information pertaining to my application as part of the review and approval

process.

I understand that my application will be considered for participation in the Allegheny County Vacant

Property Recovery Program, but there is no guarantee of acceptance into the Program. The approval of an

application and the acquisition and transfer of a property is at all times at the sole discretion of RAAC and

the Program. Neither RAAC nor the Program guarantees the acquisition and/or transfer of any property.

_____________________

Date Signature Print Name

_____________________

Date Signature Print Name

CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM

All applicants requesting participation in an Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) or Redevelopment

Authority of Allegheny County (RAAC) program are requested to disclose whether they or any of their relatives are

one or more of the following:

1. An employee of Allegheny County;

2. An elected or appointed official at the local, county, state or federal level; and/or

3. A person who has a personal financial interest or benefit and/or has decision-making ability that could

influence the outcome of any application.

If one or all of these categories applies, a formal Conflict of Interest waiver must be obtained from the appropriate

party. If the source of funding for your participation in an ACED/RAAC program is the U. S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development (HUD), then a formal Conflict of Interest waiver must be submitted to HUD for

approval.

Check the appropriate box for each

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank 1. This application should be used to apply (Borough of Wilkinsburg) Form

Related forms

Fillable 1. This application should be used to apply (Borough of Wilkinsburg)

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank 1. This application should be used to apply (Borough of Wilkinsburg) Form

Related forms

First 20 documents completely FREE!