Northside Vacant Lot Assessment

The Northside Vacant Lot Assessment collected information on the condition of vacant lots in Pittsburgh’s 19 Northside neighborhoods. The assessment was conducted by resident volunteers and community organizations. The result was a comprehensive dataset on 5,405 vacant and reused lots outlining information on the use and physical condition of each site. It was just as important to catalog lots with active uses (e.g., side yards, community gardens, playspaces) as it was to capture the condition of vacant and abandoned lots. Flower gardens, gateway gardens, parklets, playspaces, and food gardens were all mapped. The final report shares those lot-by-lot findings, including their suitability for future greening projects. The report also shares recommendations for the overall reduction of unmaintained vacant spaces in the Northside neighborhoods.

The assessment provides an example of using resident-sourced data to (1) determine the true rate of vacant lots in a community while paying attention to quality and condition not just quantity and location and (2) develop a comprehensive plan for improving conditions and implementing creative reuse.