Oakland Real Estate and the Tax Assessment

Oakland Home Sale Prices Continue to Climb

If you own a property in Oakland and aren’t quite sure how the latest tax assessment applies to you, check out the chart below for average market values of houses in Oakland’s various neighborhoods.  Knowing how your home’s assessment compares to what’s happening in the market may help you make a more informed decision on whether or not to appeal your assessment.

Additional Resources and Tips:

The city is encouraging residents to call the county or 311 for any questions about the tax assessment.  We also encourage those who have not already done so previously (you only need to do this once) to apply for the ACT 50 – Homestead Exemption, which reduces taxes for properties that are owner-occupied. Additionally, those over the age of 60 with an income below $30,000 can apply for ACT 77 – Senior Tax Relief.

Available Web Resources:

County Office of Property Assessment

2012 City of Pittsburgh Appeal Assistance

Tax Abatement and Exemptions Info/ Forms (Includes ACT 50 and 77): 

Also, check out this recent article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette which outlines the most recent information about the assessment appeals process.

Remember, the last day to request an informal hearing is February 15^th and the last day to file a formal appeal is April 2^nd.

You can also reach out to your councilperson for more information—click here to see who represents your district and how to contact them.

*OPDC compiled data based on 2008 sales transactions. Sales prices have grown by 6.5% per year throughout Oakland since 2000.

Bus Rapid Transit Project Debuts in Oakland

The “Get There Pgh!” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study is exploring how new bus service could shorten commute times and spur development between Downtown and Oakland.  OPDC welcomes the project as another way to improve transit access to and from Oakland as well as continue attracting new businesses, residents and visitors.

At the first of a series of public meetings, Darryl Phillips explained how the proposed system would improve transit service in the Downtown-Oakland-East End corridor. Phillips is Lead Traffic Engineer for Parsons Brinckerhoff, the firm conducting the study along with Port Authority and a committee of over 30 stakeholders that includes OPDC. “BRT has been proven to attract economic development in cities like Cleveland and Boston,” Phillips told attendees. “The goal is to bring the same ease of use of a subway system to the bus system here in Pittsburgh.”

A bustling employment center with a population of 20,000 and commuter population of 100,000, transportation is at the crux of Oakland’s quality of life. “We see BRT as a great opportunity not only for Oakland’s continued vitality, but for the revitalization of our neighbor communities like Uptown and the Hill District,” said OPDC’s Executive Director, Wanda Wilson. “We are working together to plan the best system to leverage development throughout the corridor.”  The diverse group of stakeholders that provided input for the Oakland 2025 Community Plan agree—they established transportation improvements as a top priority in the plan. OPDC will continue to partner with “Get There Pgh!” to achieve these goals and will engage the community every step of the way.

If you missed the BRT public meeting in January, you can view the presentation by clicking here.

Does Your Street Need More Trees?

Are you interested in planting and caring for trees in your neighborhood? Join TreeVitalize and Tree Pittsburgh for a short information session to learn how to apply for new trees to plant and organize events to care for trees. This session is open to City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County residents. Refreshments and a light dinner will be provided.

Join us:
Thursday, February 9th
6:00pm
Conservation Consultants Incorporated
64 South 14th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1548

Parking entrance may be accessed via 13th Street.

February 15th: Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force Public Meeting

Please join the Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force for their monthly meeting, held on the third Wednesday every month!

Mission: Reactivate the Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force and engage more community members to participate in enforcing codes on negligent landlords, housing violations, parking violations, disruptive behavior, excessive noise and underage drinking.

Date: Wednesday, February 15th
Time: 12pm – 1:30pm
Location: Forbes Tower, 3600 Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
11th Floor Board Room. Ask guard for elevator access to 11th floor. A complimentary lunch will be generously provided by UPMC.

After two months of dialogue sessions throughout Oakland, community members formed action teams to tackle issues they agreed to be top priorities for Oakland. One of these groups, the Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force, now meets the third Wednesday of every month and welcomes all to attend. If you miss a meeting, check this website regularly for posted minutes, announcements and other relevant materials.

February 20th: Rock Alley Public Meeting

Please join us for the Rock Alley monthly meeting!

Rock Alley Mission: Connect West Oakland, South Oakland, and the Business District with the Eliza Furnace Trail and 2nd Avenue.

Date: Monday, February 20th
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Location: Community Human Services, Community Room, 370 Lawn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Enter from rear parking lot.

After two months of dialogue sessions throughout Oakland, community members formed action teams to tackle issues they agreed to be top priorities for Oakland. One of these groups, Rock Alley, now meets the third Monday each month at the Community Human Services building and welcomes all to attend.

“The Corner” Now Open for Coffee, Music Lessons, and More

West Oakland/ Oak Hill Community Center Offering Many Amenities

Good news for West Oakland and Oak Hill residents! The new community space, The Corner, is now open. Thanks to the work of 22 volunteers earlier this month, under the leadership of Friendship Community Church, the former Breachmenders building, located at 200 Robinson Street, is now boasting a fresh new look and will provide new opportunities for community gathering and socializing. Coffee hours will take place at The Corner on Monday through Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.  With coffee priced at $1 per cup and hot chocolate for $.50, this may be the best deal in Oakland. Plus, you can enjoy meeting a new neighbor and exchanging community resources while enjoying your hot beverage.

The calendar of events at The Corner also includes music lessons on a variety of instruments for both children and adults, a public market, and even a block party. Click here to get all the details on these fun events!.

Whitney Bosnyak, who has been working as West Oakland’s community liaison for several months, will also conduct regular “office hours” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday at The Corner.  “While I am there, I will be using the time to meet with neighbors, provide resources, connect people with local social services, and just simply be physically present in West Oakland.  People are more than welcome to stop in just to see the space, talk, or request information or resources,” Whitney told us.

Restoration of The Corner is a project of Friendship Community Church, located just across the street at 181 Robinson Street. OPDC congratulates the church on the remarkable progress they’ve made converting this space. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the church in West Oakland.

See you at The Corner!

For more information about West Oakland activities, contact Whitney at wbosnyak@opdc.org or The Corner at 412.683.1400.

Oakland Career Center Places Promising Candidates with Pittsburgh Companies

OPDC is proud to highlight the successes of two JobLinks clients, Sophia Green and Leslie Manuel, whose experiences with JobLinks helped them enter Pittsburgh’s growing healthcare field. Don’t forget to watch the video to learn more about Sophia and Leslie’s personal stories!

Sophia was referred to JobLinks by the City of Pittsburgh. Her interest in the medical field made her a strong candidate for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Christopher Kendall, JobLinks’ Special Contracts Coordinator, worked hard to get Sophia sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh’s Employment, Advancement, and Retention (EARN) program, which then covered her tuition. Sophia passed the CNA course with flying colors, took her Nurse Aide Competency Exam, and then, through interviews set up by JobLinks, found employment at the Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation assisted living facility, where she has been working for over six months.

Christopher emphasized that JobLinks is not just a job placement service but also a career-oriented organization paying particular attention to job retention. “We spend a lot of time looking for the perfect fit,” he says, “so that clients find positions in which they can stay long-term and grow.” Sophia maintains contact with JobLinks and shows her appreciation for their help by volunteering at orientations and providing encouragement to new students.

Leslie came to JobLinks seeking help to stay in the healthcare field – she had worked previously as a nursing assistant in another state but needed to acquire the skills for Pennsylvania certification.  Afraid she had to start from scratch, Leslie came to JobLinks. Janette Brown, JobLinks’ Health Employment Access Coordinator, worked with Leslie to prepare for and pass her test here in Pennsylvania.

Leslie took the CNA class at JobLinks and then worked with Christopher to prepare for the POWRR event, an employment partnership program in which JobLinks participates with UPMC.  POWRR events are held quarterly; this particular POWRR session resulted in seven of the eight JobLinks candidates obtaining employment, Leslie included. Leslie is still employed with UPMC and has signed up to take her Nurse Aide Competency Exam, after additional training and encouragement from Janette. “Having such good relationships with both employers and clients is what enables us to advocate for the best matches and meet everyone’s needs,” Janette told us.

“We really know clients as individuals,” Christopher says. “That’s the culture of JobLinks and one of the keys to our success. That’s why our biggest referral source is by word of mouth.” Christopher, who has worked with generations of families, is proud that a small organization like JobLinks can be so influential in the community. “Our clients know we’re here for them,” Janette says, “and even after they’ve secured employment, they know they can call and come back if they ever need us.”

If your company needs help hiring qualified and reliable employees like Sophia and Leslie, contact JobLinks at 412.621.3821 or questions@joblinks.opdc.org. You can also visit the JobLinks website to learn more about our career services for job seekers and employers.

“Snow Angels” Comes to Oakland

KICO to Help Residents with Snow Removal

It came late, but snow has finally fallen in Pittsburgh! Its arrival means many of Oakland’s residents need assistance keeping their sidewalks and steps clear and safe. To better serve this population throughout the winter, OPDC’s Keep it Clean, Oakland! (KICO) program is pleased to partner with the City of Pittsburgh to bring the “Snow Angels” program to Oakland.

If you’re one of these residents, or you’re looking for a great way to give back to your community, then the Snow Angels program is for you! Snow Angels aims to help minimize the hardships of snow removal  by pairing volunteers with elderly or disabled residents in their neighborhood who they will assist with snow removal after each snow storm during the winter season.

Volunteers receive a servePGH safety vest, deicing salt, and a snow shovel when necessary.

If you want to apply for assistance with snow removal or want to volunteer as a Snow Angel, contact Sam Su at 412.621.7863 ext. 24 or ssu@opdc.org.