Rostraver, Belle Vernon schools join county land bank

Rostraver Township and the Belle Vernon Area School District have joined the Westmoreland County Land Bank, according to a news release.

The land bank was created in 2014 with a $50,000 grant from the county redevelopment authority with the mission of purchasing blighted or tax-delinquent properties and eventually returning the parcels to the tax rolls. Properties purchased by the land bank can be renovated, or dilapidated buildings on those sites can be demolished.

The move will help the municipality and school district — which must pay $5,000 each to enter the land bank — tackle blight problems in the community, said Gary Beck in a news release. Beck is chairman of the township board of commissioners.

The land bank has 22 municipalities and 13 school districts in Westmoreland County as members. According to its website, 46 properties have been sold by the land bank. It owns 14 residential properties, five of which are being rehabilitated and 15 commercial properties.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter @byrenatta.