Vacancy Persists: But it Looks Different, and the Rules Have Changed

Vacant properties remain a significant source of harm to neighborhoods, despite headlines on the housing shortage and booming residential markets.Yet over the past five years, the forces shaping local efforts to address vacancy—including real estate markets, court rulings, and public funding—have shifted dramatically. To continue working effectively, it is critical for communities to understand what’s driving these changes, and what lies ahead.

This webinar will provide a primer on the causes of systemic vacancy: why it exists; where it is most prevalent; and how it impacts people, places, and local governments. It will then cover how unprecedented shifts in the law, markets, and funding triggered new trends in the field of practice. Attendees will learn why some traditional tools for addressing vacant properties are becoming less effective, and why it is important to adjust to the new normal with creativity and a willingness to take risks.

Join this webinar to:

• Gain a clearer understanding of how systemic vacancy has changed—and why that matters
• Learn about emerging challenges and opportunities to respond to these unprecedented shifts
• Understand practical next steps to strengthen your local vacancy strategy

Speakers:

• Liz Kozub – Associate Director, Technical Assistance, Center for Community Progress
• Tarik Abdelazim – Vice President, Technical Assistance, Center for Community Progress