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pedantic_comments t1_j8aj5pe wrote

Reply to comment by put_the_ux_in_sux in Alternate Title: City of Pittsburgh sues to keep ownership of dilapidated housing, preventing them from being redeveloped by asdropen11

Buying my side lot took about ten years and I think I had to start the process over at least three times due to “lost” paperwork and staff turnover.

The city seems to be doing its best to rollback the side lot program, but won’t sell lots individually - only in groups to developers.

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Evorgleb t1_j8dllnl wrote

> the side lot program

I am not familiar with this program. How is it supposed to work?

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pedantic_comments t1_j8dnwkr wrote

I’d love to drop some knowledge bombs!

It’s a relic from when houses cost less than an used car. I’m pretty confident that the powers that be are trying to do as few of these sales as possible, because now it means selling a lot worth $25k+ for $400 to a neighbor.

I maintained the lot next to my house for a decade and filled out the paperwork. It takes about a year or two if you’re approved and you can’t have any major code violations or owe any tax or utilities. My neighbors got rejected for a week-overdue water bill, for example.

https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/finance/sideyard_sale_program.pdf

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