Even though they often occupy valuable real estate, some Boston properties have sat vacant in various states of limbo for years.

"All over town, buildings sit empty, somehow unused despite a fierce shortage of housing and a long-running development boom that has transformed long-quiet patches of the city into hot property," Tim Logan writes. Here, Logan looks at the stories behind several major examples, like Hotel Alexandra on Massachusetts Avenue and the J.R. Alley Brewery in Mission Hill.
The question of why these buildings remain in a vacant state for so long usually boils down to one of three reasons. In the case of small apartment complexes and old storefronts, there's often a family dispute among inheritors. In other cases, outstanding lawsuits or permitting problems prohibit redevelopment. Other times, the problem is economic: either an owner is waiting around for prices to rise before selling, or wants to redevelop but can't justify the cost.
In the end, though, Boston's overall number of vacant and troubled properties is declining. "Since 1997, the city has tracked so-called distressed buildings — vacant properties with code violations — and by 2015 that number had fallen 80 percent, as empty storefronts and three-deckers were brought back to life," Logan writes.
FULL STORY: Why have these buildings sat empty for years and even decades?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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