The city and state are investing $3 billion in rescuing vacant residential properties to promote homeownership and reduce blight.
Baltimore officials are taking steps to transform vacant homes into usable housing to create more affordable housing and eliminate ‘blight,’ report Dillon Mullan and Dan Belson. Maryland Governor Wes Moore set a goal of transitioning 5,000 units to “homeownership or other positive outcomes” in the next five years.
The city is combining state and city funding to initiate a $3 billion effort aimed at repurposing the city’s 13,000 vacant homes over the next 15 years, with $300 million coming from an industrial development authority and tax increment financing (TIF) bonds. “The TIF structure would allow the city to borrow millions of dollars to help fund the acquisition, remediation and sale of vacant properties. The debt would be paid off with new tax revenue expected to be generated by the improved properties.” Unlike prior TIF initiatives, this proposal would cover vacant properties in a noncontiguous area to include parts of the city with high vacancy rates.
Under a new state law enacted earlier this year, Maryland jurisdictions will be allowed to create vacancy taxes to stimulate development and prevent property owners from letting vacant homes or lots languish unused.
FULL STORY: State and Local Officials Eye Vacant Houses for Repurposing
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Efforts by the city and residents have generated 17,000 new housing units in the last five years.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
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5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association