This chapter relates to land banks.
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to create the Harrisburg
Land Bank, which will use available resources to facilitate the return
of vacant, blighted, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties to productive
use, thereby combating community deterioration, creating economic
growth and stabilizing the housing and job market.
A.
The social and economic vitality of the City of Harrisburg has been
adversely affected by blighted conditions found in most every neighborhood,
with the City being home to an unwieldy inventory of hundreds of vacant,
abandoned and tax-delinquent properties.
B.
These vacant properties continuously impose significant costs on
neighborhoods and communities throughout the City, by lowering property
values, increasing fire and police protection costs, undermining public
health and sanitation efforts, decreasing tax revenues and undermining
community cohesion.
C.
There remains a large inventory of vacant properties within the City
that must be significantly diminished in order to battle and deter
blight.
D.
Municipalities are now empowered to establish land banks as a tool
to better combat blight.
E.
The City of Harrisburg has a need for such a land bank to function
within the territorial limits of the City.
This chapter is adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Act 153 of 2012, P.L. 1239, an enactment of the Pennsylvania General
Assembly signed into law by the Governor on October 24, 2012, and
codified at 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 2101 et seq.
The Harrisburg Land Bank shall possess all powers and duties
permitted to it under state law, except where expressly limited in
this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The Board of Directors of the Harrisburg Land Bank.
The City of Harrisburg.
The Department of Community and Economic Development of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The date upon which this ordinance, after final passage by
the Council of the City of Harrisburg and signature by the Mayor of
the City of Harrisburg, is effective.
The separate public body corporate and politic established
pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.
Pennsylvania Act 153-2012, 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 2101
et seq., as it exists on the effective date, and as it may be hereafter
amended or replaced.
As defined in the Land Bank Act, a county, a city, a borough,
a township and an incorporated town with a population of more than
10,000; or two or more municipalities with populations less than 10,000
that enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement to establish
and maintain a land bank.
The City, and after the formation of the Harrisburg Land
Bank, any land bank jurisdiction or municipality that combines with
the Harrisburg Land Bank, and any taxing jurisdiction that participates
with the Harrisburg Land Bank for the purpose of discharge of liens
and claims provided in Section 2117(a) of the Land Bank Act.
The ordinance, or this chapter, creating the Harrisburg Land
Bank.
As defined in the Land Bank Act, a natural person with a
legal or equitable ownership interest in property which was the primary
residence of the person for at least three consecutive months at any
point in the year preceding the date of initial delinquency.
An individual, authority, limited-liability company, partnership,
firm, corporation, organization, association, joint venture, trust,
governmental entity or other legal entity.
As defined in the Land Bank Act, land and all structures
and fixtures thereon and all estates and interests in land, including
easements, covenants and leaseholders.
As defined in the Land Bank Act, any of the classifications
of school districts specified in Section 202 of the Act of March 10,
1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14), known as the "Public School Code of 1949."
The term includes, as to any real property acquired, owned or conveyed
by a land bank, the school district within whose geographical jurisdiction
the real property is located.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
As anticipated in Section 2117(e.1) of the Land Bank Act,
a county, city, borough, incorporated town, township, school district,
or a body politic and corporate created as a municipal authority pursuant
to law that may have claims against property that is subject to delinquent
tax enforcement procedures.
