Assessment of Code Enforcement Activities and Priorities to Consider in Jackson, Mississippi

The Center for Community Progress selected the City of Jackson to receive its Code Enforcement Technical Assistance Scholarship, a competitive program helping cities take a more strategic approach to vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties. Jackson was chosen for its urgent need, community-centered leadership, and openness to new approaches.

Through stakeholder engagement and a review of data, policies, and practices, Community Progress identified a key finding: Jackson’s ability to address widespread vacancy is constrained by gaps in data, weak markets, insufficient resources, and policies that keep properties stuck in decline.

This memorandum contains Community Progress’ understanding of the challenges of vacant properties in Jackson and the City’s approach to addressing these properties. As VAD properties languish, they fuel a vicious cycle of neighborhood decay. The City is doing what it can with limited data and resources, but additional capacity and resources are needed to reverse underlying market conditions and build confidence in a vibrant future for high vacancy neighborhoods.  

We present four priority areas for the City and its partners:  

1. Enhance data collection and analysis to better understand the magnitude of the problem.  

2. Leverage enhanced data practices and Code Enforcement expertise to create a comprehensive vacant property strategy. 

3. Engage a coalition of local stakeholders to support the comprehensive vacant property strategy. 

4. Assess efficacy of local legal tools and pursue state policy changes to fix ineffective and broken systems. 

Each priority area includes brief observations and preliminary recommendations for the City and its partners to explore.  

This expanded memorandum was made possible by the City’s engaged and committed Code Enforcement team along with other key stakeholders in this process. These stakeholders are listed in Appendix A. Their passion, collaboration with residents and property owners, and openness to new approaches exemplifies the leadership Jackson needs to address its complex issues. 

Though Jackson faces significant challenges, Community Progress left the city with a sense of hope. Local leaders and residents are already working to turn their frustration over past disinvestment and harmful policies into meaningful action for a stronger, more vibrant city. 

This memorandum offers a range of short- and long-term options to help stabilize neighborhoods through increased code compliance. All observations are those of Community Progress and may not reflect the views of those interviewed.