Borough to showcase vacant properties
Officials hoping to attract new buyers
Unlike most home tours, which give participants a peek at nicely appointed homes and yards, a tour being held in Wilkinsburg next week will showcase the borough’s vacant properties.
“We have the highest rate of vacancy in Allegheny County, around 19 percent vacancy,” said Tracey Evans, executive director of the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp., which will host the vacant property tour Tuesday through next Friday as part of the borough’s first Vacant Properties Week.
“Vacant Properties Week is a way for us to share information with the community and those interested in acquiring and rehabbing vacant properties in Wilkinsburg,” Ms. Evans said.
This year, the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. hired Kevin Boyle as its first vacant property coordinator to focus efforts on the issue of abandoned properties in the borough.
Building on the success of the development corporation’s annual spring vac a n t home tour, next week’s event will kick off with a haunted walking tour on Halloween and include free workshops on how to acquire, finance and renovate vacant properties.
Those attending will also be able to obtain information and one-on-one assistance directly from the development corporation and borough staff, including the code enforcement officer.
“We are excited to bring Vacant Properties Week to Wilkinsburg residents and potential homebuyers in the region,” Mr. Boyle said.
Ms. Evans added that the vacant home tours each spring have begun to raise awareness of the issues surrounding vacant properties and build momentum around potential solutions.
She said since Mr. Boyle started at the development corporation, he has done an updated assessment of every vacant property in Wilkinsburg “so we have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that vacant properties in our community present.”
“Moving forward, we plan to host more workshops and activities by way of a new ‘Vacant Property Academy’ that we will be introducing in the next year,” Ms. Evans said.
The workshops and activities are free, but space is limited and registration is required by Friday. For information or registration: 412-727-7855 or email kevin@wilkinsburgcdc.org
Here events:
Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m. — Haunted walking tour in which the history of some of the vacant homes along South Avenue will be showcased. Meet at South Avenue and Center Street.
Wednesday, 6 p.m. — Learn how to acquire vacant property and essential tools available for vacant property acquisition at South Avenue United Methodist Church, 733 South Ave.
Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon — Meet with Mr. Boyle, vacant property coordinator, and borough code enforcement officer Eric Parrish to ask questions and learn more about vacant property acquisition in council chambers at the borough building, 605 Ross Ave.
Thursday, 2 to 6 p.m. — Find out how to renovate or refinance a property using a special mortgage program, Federal Housing Administration 203(k), at the Flower House, 766 Penn Ave.
Next Friday, 2 to 4 p.m. — Reception and networking opportunity with development corporation and its parters at Garden Dreams, 860 Holland Ave. is the schedule of