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. Today, we’re excited to introduce a new direction for that work, designed to bring significant TA within reach of the places that need it most, while piloting innovative…

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Wheeling, WV’s code enforcement strategy contends with a graying city

Cross-posted from Next City, this article is part of the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference liveblog series. Check out all the in-depth content — even if you weren’t able to join us in Philadelphia from September 9-11, 2013, you’ll feel like you did! Every city wants to know the secret to effective, budget-friendly code enforcement. But if there’s…

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The case for federal investment in electronic county property records

Cross-posted from Next City, this article is part of the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference liveblog series. Check out all the in-depth content — even if you weren’t able to join us in Philadelphia from September 9-11, 2013, you’ll feel like you did! One issue that’s come up again and again at the Reclaiming Vacant Properties conference —…

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Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania shares land banking videos, feat. Kim Graziani and Frank Alexander

The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania put together a Land Bank Headquarters page on its website, featuring training videos and in-depth interviews with experts from Community Progress and throughout the field, including Jim Rokakis of the Thriving Communities Initiative, Jons Kromer of the Fels Institute of Government, Katelyn Wright of the Syracuse Bureau of Planning and…

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Op-Ed: ‘Demolition’ is not a bad word — Just keep it strategic

Cross-posted from Next City, this article is part of the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference liveblog series. Check out all the in-depth content — even if you weren’t able to join us in Philadelphia from September 9-11, 2013, you’ll feel like you did! Vacant properties and otherwise blighted and deeply undervalued parcels are one of the key challenges…

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The Mayors’ Exchange on Unlocking Value in Vacancy: Full Video

Five mayors from cities across the country joined us at the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference to share how their own communities are putting innovative programs into practice. Thanks to PhillyCAM, the full, one-of-a-kind session is now available online. In “View From City Hall: The Mayors Exchange on Unlocking Value in Vacancy,” Mayor Michael Nutter of…

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Baltimore’s Three-Part System for Dealing With Vacant Properties

Cross-posted from Next City, this article is part of the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference liveblog series. Check out all the in-depth content — even if you weren’t able to join us in Philadelphia from September 9-11, 2013, you’ll feel like you did! Baltimore is no stranger to blight and urban decay. The city has lost roughly one-third…

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