Vacant Properties
On the Ground in the Effort to Save Detroit's Neighborhoods
As Detroit's efforts to stabilize its neighborhoods progress, valuable lessons and trends are emerging. One particularly bright spot was recently revealed: fewer homes are in need of demolition than originally thought.
Details of New Orleans' Online Property Auction
On March 6, 2015, New Orleans launched a new online auction system for tax-adjudicated properties. The Times-Picayune has been closely monitoring the system since it launched.
Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval
By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.
Report Details Best Practices for Land Banks
A recent report collects data from the experience of cities using land banks as a method for addressing vacant and blighted properties.
Report Collects and Shares Lessons from New York's Land Banks
Practical lessons and best practices will be helpful in empowering land banks to curb the spread of blight, foreclosures, and abandoned properties.
'Urban Reviewer' Archives New York City's 155 Neighborhood Master Plans
The 596 Acres project to catalogue and improve vacant, publicly owned lots in New York City produced another great tool called the Urban Reviewer, which gathers all of New York's adopted neighborhood master plans in one place.
Reducing the Number of Abandoned Properties in Louisville
Louisville, like many other cities around the country, has been working hard to reduce the number of abandoned buildings. Recent efforts have provided the city with a new road map for blight reduction.
Vacant Properties Linger Post-Sandy in Queens and Rockaway
Still plagued by home left vacant after Hurricane Sandy, a politician and local activists are pushing for greater action to clean up the blighted properties.
Keys to a Successful Land Bank
Philadelphia recently became the largest U.S. city to create a “land bank.” As new land banks spring up across the country, it is important to take a close look at what needs to accompany them if we want to have real impact.
Behind the Scenes of Philly's New Land Bank Law
In Philadelphia, an alliance of unusual suspects worked together to convince the city to create the land bank. The law isn't perfect but the new land bank will significantly improve the city’s vacant property process.
De Blasio Tax Hike Aims to Turn Speculators into Developers
A plan to eliminate a tax loophole on more than 10,500 vacant lots across New York City could help contribute to the mayor-elect's affordable housing goals.
Getting to Know Decaying Detroit, Parcel-by-Parcel
An "unprecedented" effort being led by Detroit’s new Blight Task Force will document the city's crumbling and vacant properties. It's part of a multi-pronged effort to combat Detroit's widespread blight.
Vacant Buildings: Renovate, Demolish, or Disguise?
To battle blight caused by the plague of vacant properties left by declining populations and the Great Recession, cities and property owners are resorting to some sly tactics.
Struggling Cities Demolish Their Way to Growth
Saddled with thousands of vacant buildings, and little hope of recovering lost population, cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo, and Cleveland are pursuing large-scale demolitions. Shrinking cities are changing the very practice of urban planning.
Can a Land Bank Help Dispose of Philadelphia's 40,000 Vacant Properties?
Seeking to stabilize healthy neighborhoods and revitalize others, Philadelphia is planning to establish a land bank to "consolidate its inventory of distressed real estate," reports Jon Hurdle. The plan could become a national model.
Can Algorithms Expedite the Activation of Vacant Properties?
With thousands of abandoned homes located in neighborhoods of varying shape and character, Chicago has a massive challenge in returning its vacant properties to active use. Can algorithms help leaders decide on the right solutions?
Could Mandatory Insurance Prevent Vacant Building Blight?
Abandoned factories litter the landscapes of cities and towns throughout the Rust Belt. A new paper proposes an innovative solution to help prevent vacant buildings from plaguing a community before a building is ever constructed.
In Aftermath of Building Collapse, Philly Mulls Vacant Property Tax
The tragic deaths of six people in last week's downtown building collapse have prompted Philadelphia City Council President Darrell L. Clarke to revive a bill he originally sponsored 13 years ago that would penalize owners of vacant properties.
Chicago Area Taking Aggressive Steps to Stabilize Housing Market
Although the nation's housing market appears to be improving, the foreclosure crisis is far from over. Following in the footsteps of other localities, Cook County, Illinois, is creating a countywide land bank to help address its foreclosures.
Vacant Lots Ripe for Parks, and Legal Troubles
Nate Berg reports on the legal problems that can arise when a good Samaritan tries to create a park on a vacant lot.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
