CLEARFIELD – The creation of a land bank in Clearfield County has been discussed and analyzed since 2014.
A land bank can be formed by a government entity to facilitate the return of vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties to productive use.
It’s similar to a Redevelopment Authority but is without the power of eminent domain, explained Lisa Kovalick, redevelopment authority director, at Tuesday’s board of commissioners’ meeting.
“Under the PA Land Bank Law, counties and or eligible municipalities may create a land bank, or designate their Redevelopment Authority to act as a land bank.”
The county’s Redevelopment Authority was re-activated in 2020, and has since assisted several municipalities, Kovalick said. These include Clearfield, Coalport, Curwensville and Mahaffey Boroughs as well as Bigler, Boggs, Morris and Lawrence Townships.
It’s acquired seven properties and razed 10 vacant, blighted properties. Of those, three remain held by their municipality and three are currently for sale.
Four properties have already been sold to private individuals and developers, and are now back on the tax base, noted Kovalick.
And, “we currently have one demolition out to bid, and are preparing to purchase three blighted properties in the first half of 2024.
“One might say that an average of three properties a year is good,” said Kovalick. “[But], I say it’s not enough.
“We know from our blight study in 2014 that we have at least 323 vacant, blighted properties here in Clearfield County.”
Additionally, the municipalities we’re working with have a large number of vacant, abandoned properties with “little to no market value,” she said.
“Many have delinquent taxes in excess of fair market value.”
These delinquent taxes, according to Kovalick, put a real “burden” not just on residents, but also the county, local municipality and school districts.
Land bank law will give the Redevelopment Authority the ability to acquire more tax-delinquent properties, clear titles and market a clean property, she said.
With the adoption of the county ordinance Tuesday, under land bank law, Clearfield County designated the Redevelopment Authority as its land bank.
This allows the Redevelopment Authority to acquire property at low or no cost through judicial sales, use priority bid, hold property tax free, extinguish tax liens on property it owns and expedite quiet title.
The land bank then markets clean properties to private developers for community needs like additional housing, green space or business expansion.
This move has no financial obligation to the county, said Kovalick.
The Redevelopment Authority/Land Bank will continue to operate on public and private grants, and proceeds from sales and leases.
It will allow the Redevelopment Authority to carry out its mission of “creating healthy, safe and prosperous neighborhoods,” she said.