Vacant Properties

On the Docket: Stabilizing Neighborhoods in Cleveland

Real estate speculators are being fined big bucks in Cleveland for letting properties sit vacant, but the jury's still out on whether this is the key to stabilizing neighborhoods.

22 January 2012 - 9:00am

Shelterforce

$1 Homes to Urban Homesteaders in Buffalo

City of Buffalo program has inspired a small and growing movement of "homesteaders" who are buying City-owned houses for one dollar and rehabbing them.

14 April 2011 - 12:00pm

WKBW.com

Quantifying the Impact of Abandoned Properties in Philly

A new study suggests that Philadelphia's 40,000 vacant buildings reduce home values by as much as $8,000 and cost the city $20 million per year in maintenance.

17 November 2010 - 6:00am

Philadelphia Daily News

How to Make Vacant Properties Disappear

Vacant properties are considered blight instead of potential, argues John Kromer of the Fels Institute. By acting strategically and thinking smaller, officials can revitalize their cities and attract new, more stable investment.

10 December 2009 - 5:00am

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Fighting The Blight Of Vacant Retail

Time Magazine takes a look at the growing problem of vacant storefronts across the U.S., and what some intrepid souls are doing about it.

5 October 2009 - 8:00am

Time Magazine

Habitat For Humanity Sees Gold In Vacant Housing

Used to pouring resources into building new homes, Habitat for Humanity sees opportunity in the vast number of vacancies caused by the mortgage crisis.

26 September 2009 - 1:00pm

Miller-McCune

Fighting Blight With Art

Palm Springs officials are working to fill the windows of empty storefronts with art and movie posters in order to keep the streetscape feeling lively.

20 September 2009 - 5:00am

The Los Angeles Times

Dealing With Vacant Mansions in London

In a posh borough of London, empty homes are causing problems for officials, who are tasked with finding the owners of these vacant or abandoned mansions.

17 July 2009 - 10:00am

The Wall Street Journal

Cities Creating Land Banks to Deal with Vacant Properties

Abandoned and foreclosed properties are plaguing many cities. Now some are trying to turn the blight into prosperity by creating land banks to hold, remodel or demolish the properties -- and pull in some revenue while they're at it.

13 July 2009 - 5:00am

USA Today

Brainstorm: Can Cities Shrink Gracefully? Should They? How?

As the recession digs in, cities across the country are left with large swaths of abandoned or vacant places. Can these cities shrink gracefully? Do they even need to? Vote on ideas submitted by the Planetizen community, or suggest your own.

29 June 2009 - 10:00am

Against the Bulldozer

Struggling cities are increasingly looking at the idea of bulldozing vacant properties and "shrinking". But two columnists argue it might not be such a good idea.

23 June 2009 - 7:00am

Citiwire

Whither Vacant Buildings?

Officials in Fort Worth, Texas, are searching for ways to deal with buildings left vacant by businesses struggling during the recession. Other cities and the state of Texas are also addressing the issue.

7 April 2009 - 11:00am

Fort Worth Star Telegram

'Alarming' Increases In Shopping Center Vacancies

Empty retail space increased dramatically over the last six months, according to data compiled by commercial real estate brokers and investment advisors.

20 June 2008 - 9:00am

Home Town Advantage Bulletin

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Who’s Watching the Beach?

Wed, 05/02/2007 - 08:34

It’s not just those buff lifeguards. Most coastal and Great Lakes states have a coastal zone management program. And not only are the coastal zone managers watching the beach, they are watching what’s being built in their communities. In fact, in recent interviews of coastal zone managers, 56 out of 58 said growth was the top pressure on coastal resources in their state.

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