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Our blog unpacks complex approaches to community revitalization so you feel ready to return vacant properties to productive use. Sign up for our newsletter to get solutions in your inbox.

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At the heart of it all
February 14, 2014
At the heart of it all

We can point to the negative impact of vacant properties on health, crime, property values, and other areas. We can study vacancy numbers and property tax revenues,…

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Our new Technical Assistance Scholarship Program RFA (applications due 3/24!)
February 12, 2014
Our new Technical Assistance Scholarship Program RFA (applications due 3/24!)

For years, through our technical assistance services, we’ve had the privilege of working with communities around the country to reclaim their neighborhoods from blight, vacancy, and abandonment….

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How the garden grows: A Q&A with Mark Covington
February 4, 2014
How the garden grows: A Q&A with Mark Covington

In our recent report, Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices, we share the story of Mark Covington, who, through his passion and hard work, was able to…

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It takes a village…to make a place: Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo
January 30, 2014
It takes a village…to make a place: Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo

Our new report, Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices, uses case studies to examine how placemaking can be used in Legacy Cities. Below, we share an…

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Interview with the authors: An inside look at “Placemaking in Legacy Cities”
January 28, 2014
Interview with the authors: An inside look at “Placemaking in Legacy Cities”

We recently released Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices, which explores how residents and leaders in Legacy Cities have used placemaking principles to transform blighted public spaces into…

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The March of the Millennial Generation to the Cities is Real
January 23, 2014
The March of the Millennial Generation to the Cities is Real

Originally posted on the National Housing Institute’s Rooflines blog This past fall, the Washington Post ran a series called “The March of the Millennials” about how this generation is…

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Just released! Our new report shares stories of placemaking in Legacy Cities
January 16, 2014
Just released! Our new report shares stories of placemaking in Legacy Cities

Today marks the release of our latest publication: Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices! The impetus for the report began with a question: how does placemaking…

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The Housing Recovery: Now You See It, Now You Don’t
January 3, 2014
The Housing Recovery: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Originally posted on the National Housing Institute’s Rooflines blog The housing market is coming back. Finally, after listening to false hopes and promises for the last few…

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Season’s greetings from Community Progress
December 23, 2013
Season’s greetings from Community Progress

Season’s greetings from Community Progress! As 2013 comes to a close, we took some time to reflect on the last twelve months. It’s easy to declare, “It…

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Demolition the right way: Using strategic demolition to revitalize communities
December 20, 2013
Demolition the right way: Using strategic demolition to revitalize communities

Though temperatures were in the low 40’s, spirits were high when I attended the 3rd Anniversary of the multifaceted Vacants to Value program in Baltimore last month….

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Ira Goldstein on Lessons in Redevelopment Without Displacement from Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Neighborhood: An RVP Speaker Spotlight

We asked one of our speakers to preview his session at the 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, and what you’ll learn by attending.

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Jack BeVier on Rethinking Vacant Property Strategy in an Era of Private Reinvestment: An RVP Speaker Spotlight

We asked one of our speakers to preview his session at the 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, and what you’ll learn by attending.

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Aaron Sukenik and Cate Irvin on Sustaining Storefront Activation in Downtown Pittsburgh: An RVP Speaker Spotlight

We asked our speakers to preview their walking tour at the 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, and what you’ll learn by attending.

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Get Ready for the ROAD to Housing Act: Steps to Take Before Accessing New Housing Funds

What the ROAD to Housing Act contains relating to community revitalization and vacant property reuse.

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What Pung v. Isabella Means for Communities Dealing with Vacant, Tax-Delinquent Property

What communities dealing with property vacancy, abandonment, and tax delinquency should expect following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Pung.

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Proposed Housing Legislation in the 119th Congress: What Land Banks Need to Know

Guidance for land banks on emerging housing legislation moving through Congress.

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How Vacant and Abandoned Buildings Affect Communities

Learn how vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties—referred to by some as “blighted properties”—pose significant costs to public health, property values, and local taxpayers.

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How Land Banks and Under-Resourced Developers Can Collaborate to Build Affordable Housing

Ways that land banks and under-resourced developers can collaborate to build green, affordable infill housing.

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What are Proactive Rental Inspection Programs?: Keeping Homes Occupied and Communities Healthy

Proactive rental inspection programs shift code enforcement from reactive to strategic, identifying health hazards like lead paint, mold, and broken heating before they harm tenants or push properties toward vacancy. Learn how local governments design effective programs, with examples from cities across the country.

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How Land Banks Can Address Brownfields: Case Studies

Land banks are well-positioned to engage in brownfield redevelopment. As public entities with unique powers to address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties, land banks can help communities return these properties to productive use in alignment with community goals. A growing number of communities across the country are seeing land banks…

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