Vacant Property Program

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Duquesne administers the Vacant Property Review Committee Program to acquire vacant, blighted, tax-delinquent properties, clear tax liens and convey the properties to new owners for productive uses.

The purpose of the Vacant Property Review Committee Program (VPRC) is to certify certain properties as blighted, in accordance with the definition and procedures set forth in the Urban Redevelopment Law Act of May 24, 1945 P.L. 991, as amended in 1972, commonly known as Act #94. The impact of the program is to either have private property owners make improvements to properties and pay delinquent taxes or have the Redevelopment Authority legally remove the liens from a property and resell the property free and clear of liens. The property is thus placed on the tax roles. The program is very important to the City in helping to stabilize and expand the tax base.

The City of Duquesne created the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Duquesne (RACD) in 1996 to operate under Act 94. Since that time the RACD has utilized funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and Allegheny County to acquire and sell over 125 vacant properties. Some of these vacant properties were structures that have been rehabilitated through the City’s Rehab for Resale Program or by others; some are side yards that have been redeveloped to allow for the expansion of homes, decks, porches, garages and gardens.

Click Here to Download the Vacant Property Program Application.