Land Bank Board

Board Members

  • Deborah Penrod, Chair,  Land Bank Board (term ends 4/9/26)
  • Lisa Vanni, Vice Chair (term ends 4/9/24)
  • Twila Fisher, Secretary (term ends 6/11/25)
  • Jamie Sanchez, Treasurer (term ends 4/9/26)
  • Carol Kulp (term ends 4/9/24)
  • Peggy Lee-Clark, Land Bank Administrator
  • Virginia Takach, Right to Know Officer, gtakach@pottstown.org 

About the Land Bank

On November 13, 2017, the Borough of Pottstown created a public entity known as the Pottstown Borough Land Bank (PBLB or Land Bank) as authorized by the Pennsylvania Land Bank Law. The PBLB will use available resources to facilitate the return of vacant, blighted, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties (collectively “problem properties”) to productive use, thereby combating community deterioration, creating economic growth and stabilizing the housing and job markets in the Borough of Pottstown.

For an overview of the Land Bank’s progress, click here to see "Pottstown Land Bank: Open for Business."

Mission

The mission of the Land Bank is to deter blight and to return vacant and underutilized property to productive use through a unified, predictable, and transparent process, thereby revitalizing neighborhoods, creating opportunities for economic development, and strengthening the Borough of Pottstown’s tax base. 

Documents and Resources

  • To view the Land Bank Ordinance click here. 
  • To view the Land Bank Policies and Procedures click here.
  • To view the Proposed Revisions to the Land Bank Policies and Procedures click here.  (Public comments accepted until May 26, 2023)
  • To view the Land Bank Conflict of Interests Policy click here.
  • Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement click here.
  • Land Bank Bylaws click here.
  • Pennsylvania Land Bank Law click here.
  • Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Land Bank and Blight Library click here.

Land Bank FAQs

Land banking is a tool, enabled by state legislation, to help communities combat the problems associated with blighted, abandoned and vacant properties. Tax-delinquent, abandoned and vacant properties (collectively "problem properties") destabilize communities, create fire and safety hazards, drive down property values and drain local tax dollars.  Land banks strategically acquire problem properties and convert these liabilities into assets. 

The main goal of the Pottstown Borough Land Bank is to acquire the title to problem properties, eliminate the liabilities (like tax liens and claims), and transfer the properties to new, responsible owners in a transparent manner for use and development consistent with local plans and priorities. 

Frequently Asked Questions click here. 

land bank

Property Inventory

The Land Bank is working towards its initial acquisitions. Once the Land Bank begins to acquire properties, the Land Bank will maintain a publicly available inventory of those properties.

Qualifications for Purchase


All applicants seeking to purchase property from the Land Bank will be required to provide a part of their application such information as may be requested by the Land Bank, including but not limited to (a) the legal status of the applicant, its organizational and financial structure, (b) its prior experience in developing and managing real property, and (c) an affidavit stating that the applicant has no outstanding taxes or municipal claims, or outstanding violations of the Borough’s codes at any other properties within the Borough wherein the applicant has an ownership interest. See the Land Bank Policies and Procedures for more information. 

Interested in Purchasing Property from the Land Bank? Get Pre-Screened for Basic Eligibility

The Land Bank is seeking to pre-screen developers, organizations, and individuals interested in applying to acquire vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties that may become available through the Land Bank.  The Land Bank’s Policies and Procedures set forth the basic eligibility requirements for purchasing properties from the Land Bank. Pre-screened applicants determined to meet the basic eligibility requirements will be notified when the Land Bank has properties available for purchase.  Available properties will also be posted on the Land Bank’s webpage.  Pre-Screening Application Form click here:  

Now Accepting Inquiries

Interested in acquiring a blighted property in the Borough? See if the Land Bank can help! Download and complete the Request for Investigation (RF) form and submit it to the Land Bank click here.

Stay Informed

If you’d like to be notified about upcoming Land Bank meetings, please sign up through the Borough’s Notify Me webpage, and choose Land Bank Board under Agenda Center. 

For more information about the Land Bank, contact: landbank@pottstown.org.

Meetings

4th Monday of the month, 4:30 p.m. Council Meeting Room, Borough Hall.