The Blight-Busting Tactic That Pays Huge Dividends for Real Estate Values

Neighborhoods achieve significantly more improvements by rehabilitating vacant rowhouses than by introducing new construction.

1 minute read

October 8, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Baltimore

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

Over a quarter century, West Philadelphia neighborhoods were improved significantly more by the rehabilitation of vacant rowhouses than the introduction of new construction, according to the major finding of a study by May 8 Consulting and Reinvestment Fund released this month. In addition, the study found that scattered site rehabilitated housing also cost less to construct and used less taxpayer money. The findings have wide implications for policy makers. 

Read more about the study in an article written by May 8 CEO Karen Black for Sightline. Sandy Smith also reported on the results of the study for Next City.

Hat tip to May 8 for sharing the news of the study.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 in Shelterforce Magazine

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

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

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.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Flat modern glass office tower with "County of Santa Clara" sign.

Santa Clara County Dedicates Over $28M to Affordable Housing

The county is funding over 600 new affordable housing units via revenue from a 2016 bond measure.

May 23 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of dense urban center with lines indicating smart city concept.

Why a Failed ‘Smart City’ Is Still Relevant

A Google-backed proposal to turn an underused section of Toronto waterfront into a tech hub holds relevant lessons about privacy and data.

May 23 - Governing

Pale yellow Sears kit house with red tile roof in Sylva, North Carolina.

When Sears Pioneered Modular Housing

Kit homes sold in catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward made homeownership affordable for midcentury Americans.

May 23 - The Daily Yonder