Land bank board adds Wilson

A new face will soon be on the board of the Pittsburgh Land Bank, a 7- year- old agency that has yet to renovate or sell a single parcel.

Councilman Bobby Wilson has been appointed to take the seat of Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, whose term expired. Mr. Wilson’s term, approved by council Tuesday, expires in November 2024.

The agency has acquired one vacant lot in Larimer since its formation in 2014, even as the city faces the challenge of thousands of vacant lots and homes — roughly 11,500 in its own portfolio.

“Up until this point, the land bank has not been fully funded. ... We need an active land bank that’s working and transparent and going after the vacant and abandoned properties,” said Mr. Wilson, adding he hopes a proposed $10 million in federal pandemic relief dollars will jumpstart the agency.

The land bank’s eightmember board is chaired by Councilman Ricky Burgess. Members announced new leadership in March when the agency became an affiliate of the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. Diamonte Walker, the authority’s deputy executive director, also assumed the role of the land bank’s executive director.

Meeting in person

After roughly 14 months of Pittsburgh City Council virtual meetings streamed live on YouTube, members returned to Grant Street.

Most members, as well as the city clerk, met in person Tuesday in Council Chambers on the fifth floor of the City-County Building.

Two members, Deb Gross and Erika Strassburger, remained remote.

Citing concerns about her unvaccinated child who attends child care, Ms. Strassburger said she and her staff will not be returning to the office “for quite some time until this latest spike in COVID is under control in this county.”

Allegheny County reported 701 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, a total obtained from the previous 72 hours. No new deaths were reported.

City Council meetings will continue to be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.