Publications

Community Progress publishes reports, case studies, and toolkits to help communities across the country turn vacant spaces into vibrant places. Download hundreds of free resources today, and sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest publications directly in your inbox.

Land Banks, State/National Analysis

New York State Land Banks
A New National Standard

This report offers a history of the land bank movement in New York, including an assessment of the work completed to date, the factors key to success, and what to expect of this maturing movement in the years to come.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Property Tax System

The Cost of Vacant and Blighted Properties in Pittsburgh
A Conservative Analysis of Service, Tax Delinquency, and Spillover Costs

In order to raise awareness of the true costs of vacant and distressed property in Pittsburgh, in 2016 the City of Pittsburgh retained the Center for Community Progress to perform a “cost of blight” study.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Tackling the Challenge of Blight in Baltimore
An Evaluation of Baltimore’s Vacants to Values Program

This report includes the results of our quantitative or statistical analysis of Baltimore’s Vacants to Value program interventions and their affects on neighborhoods.

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Vacant Land Stewardship

The Reimagining Cleveland Vacant Lot Greening Program
Evaluating Economic Development and Public Safety Outcomes

This research brief analyzes the economic impacts of different greening interventions in Cleveland, Ohio and suggests opportunities for more impactful greening of vacant land in the city.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Property Tax System

Implementing a Coordinated Approach to Address the Systemic Causes of Vacancy and Abandonment in High Point, North Carolina
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of High Point, North Carolina.

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Property Tax System

Assessment of Baltimore City’s Tax Sale System
Impacts on City Finances, Vacant Properties, and Vulnerable Owner Occupants

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of Baltimore, Maryland.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Property Tax System

Laying the Foundation
Developing an Improved Approach to Problem Properties in Rockford

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of Rockford, Illinois.

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Where Will People Live?
New Orleans’ Growing Rental Housing Challenge

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2016 technical assistance engagement with New Orleans to assess rental housing conditions.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis

Alternative Strategies for an Equitable, Efficient, and Effective Code Enforcement System in Mobile, Alabama
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2016 technical assistance engagement with Mobile, Alabama to outline an equitable, efficient, and effective code enforcement system.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets, Property Tax System

A Conservative Analysis of Costs Imposed by Vacant and Blighted Properties in Toledo
Conducted at the Invitation of the Junction Neighborhood

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation about the Junction neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis

An Assessment of Code Enforcement Strategies in Lima, Ohio
Observations and Recommendations

How Lima can address its vacant and abandoned buildings and lots to improve community wellbeing.

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Newark through Housing Choice Vouchers
A Newark Land Bank Case Study

How the Newark Land Bank is using Housing Choice Vouchers to help people become homeowners.

Brownfields, Land Banks

Land Banks & Brownfield Redevelopment
A Step-by-Step Overview

A step-by-step guide for how land banks can redevelop polluted or contaminated properties and put them back to productive use.

Local Analysis

Addressing Vacant, Abandoned, and Deteriorated Properties in Arkansas
A Policy Brief

Arkansas communities face sizable challenges with vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties—what many call “blighted” properties. These challenges encompass vacant commercial properties in the state’s rural main streets and urban downtowns, abandoned houses and overgrown lots in residential neighborhoods, and deteriorated structures scattered throughout rural and agricultural communities. Nearly 30…

Code Enforcement System, Land Banks, Local Analysis, Property Tax System

Enhancing Capacity to Repurpose New Jersey’s Vacant Properties
How to Advance Community Goals Through Land Banking and Other Tools

This brief is a product of the New Jersey Land Bank Launch Initiative. The competition for land (with and without structures) is being felt acutely across the Garden State. Since the pandemic, many New Jersey communities have seen markets flip almost overnight, with an influx of new residents who had…

Land Banks, Racial Equity

The Road Ahead for Land Banks
Opportunities for Growth and Greater Equity

For nearly 15 years, the Center for Community Progress has tirelessly worked with hundreds of land bank leaders, practitioners, partners, and allies to help land banks revitalize their communities. Through our expert guidance, resources, leadership programming, policy advocacy, and the National Land Bank Network (NLBN), we have been an integral…

Land Banks, Racial Equity

How Land Banks Are Leading Racial Justice Efforts
Moving from Vision to Action for Equitable Development

It is not a coincidence that systemic vacancy—and its associated social, economic, and environmental harms—disproportionately affects Black and Brown neighborhoods. This is the result of decades of racist, inequitable policies and institutional disinvestment. Land banks are a powerful tool to break this cycle of vacancy, coordinate new investments in long-neglected…

Property Tax System

Policy Brief: Tyler v. Hennepin County in 2024
Updated Analysis and Policy Reform Options

On May 25, 2023, the US Supreme Court handed down its decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, making a significant incursion into the state and local government practice of property tax foreclosure. In short, the Tyler decision posits that tax foreclosure is solely a debt collection tool and that local…

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Exploring the Utility and Value of Creating a Land Bank in Atlantic City
New Jersey Land Bank Launch Technical Assistance Scholarship

This memo is a product of the New Jersey Land Bank Launch Initiative. This memorandum summarizes key takeaways, observations, and recommendations for the U.S. HART CARES leadership team (US HART) and the City of Atlantic City (City) to consider as they explore implementation of a land bank to address vacant,…

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Assessment of VAD Strategies and a Land Bank in Salem, New Jersey
New Jersey Land Bank Launch Technical Assistance Scholarship

This brief is a product of the New Jersey Land Bank Launch Initiative. This memorandum summarizes key takeaways, observations, and recommendations for the City of Salem (City) and its partner, the Cumberland County Improvement Authority (The Authority) to consider as they explore implementation of a land bank to address vacant,…

Publications

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