Land bank lists houses in Turtle Creek and Braddock Hills

The Tri-COG Land Bank plans to put two houses up for sale on Jan. 27, the organization announced Thursday.

The houses, located in Turtle Creek and Braddock Hills, will be the land bank’s first two houses to be listed for sale since the organization’s 2017 launch.

The land bank was founded in 2017 to acquire abandoned properties, clear the titles and sell them in an effort to cut down on blight and help revitalize neighborhoods. It now owns 32 properties in 22 member municipalities within Allegheny County.

The homes are located at:

• 705 Mercer St. in Turtle Creek. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom. It will be sold as is, with a listing price of $18,000. Necessary renovations are estimated to cost $20,450.

• 1114 Wilkins Ave. in Braddock Hills. It has three bedrooms and one bathroom. It will be sold as is, with a listing price of $10,000. Necessary renovations are estimated to cost $94,172.

“We are so excited to turn these abandoned properties into new homes for local community members,” said Executive Director An Lewis.

She said both homes have clear titles, which were obtained through a legal process that allows new owners to insure titles and protect them from liability for past owners’ unpaid bills and taxes.

The organization listed a vacant lot in Edgewood at 430 Morris St. in October. The lot’s asking price is $45,000.

Additional information on the land bank’s properties and how to apply to purchase them can be found on its website.