American Dream for Sale: $1,000 for an Empty Lot in Newark

In a bid for revenue and rejuvenation, Newark is selling vacant lots for $1,000. Buyers promise to build a home and stay for at least five years.

1 minute read

March 14, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Newark

wbaiv / Flickr

Facing a surplus of vacant lots and demand from priced-out New Yorkers, the city of Newark held a Valentine's Day sale: land for $1,000 with a catch. Matt A.V. Chaban writes, "Those lucky enough to get a plot must close on it within three months, build a home within 18 and then spend five years living there, all under the watchful eye of City Hall. They will not be obliged to pay property taxes during that span, and some financial assistance is available, but if they fail to follow through, they will be fined and could face repossession."

Newark wants to promote economic and social resilience in areas long associated with blight. "By dressing it up as a Valentine's Day event, the administration hoped to emphasize that Newark, where 29 percent of the 277,000 residents live below the poverty line, was a place for families — families who saw value in properties that their previous owners had long since given up on."

An influx of property-hungry middle class buyers raises the question of gentrification. But given the event's popularity, Newark is unlikely to hold off on future lot sales. "For those who had their hearts broken, there is still hope. The city has at least 2,000 vacant lots it wants to redevelop, including 500 suitable for homes like these."

Monday, February 23, 2015 in New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

3 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles Public Press