The GIS tool is designed to help developers find vacant and blighted lots that could be restored for new housing or other uses.

A new GIS tool will help developers in DeKalb County identify “blighted or underused sites” in the region, as well as financial incentives to help move redevelopment projects forward.
According to an article by Josh Green in Urbanize Atlanta, “The layered GIS map is designed to bring brownfield sites to light in a digestible, one-stop-shop way, with pertinent details such as ownership and type of potential hazard listed for hundreds of properties.” The map includes the city of Atlanta.
Although brownfield are defined as sites impacted by environmental contamination, “not all sites on DeKalb’s GIS page need remediation, per the mapping tool.” Local economic development authority Decide DeKalb, who collaborated with the county on the tool, plans to help developers find potential funding sources for site cleanup efforts.
FULL STORY: New tool helps investors find janky development sites across DeKalb

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.

From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program
The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.

Planting Relief: Tackling Las Vegas Heat One Tree at a Time
Nevada Plants, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is combating the city’s extreme urban heat by giving away trees to residents in underserved neighborhoods, promoting shade, sustainability, and community health.
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