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, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Beyond Blight
City of Flint Comprehensive Blight Elimination Framework

In 2015, in support of the City of Flint’s efforts, Community Progress provided critical input into the framing and development of the Comprehensive Blight Elimination Framework, which laid out clear, actionable priorities for effective waste removal, property boarding, demolition, mowing, vacant lot reuse, building rehabilitation, and code enforcement.

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

Taking a Strategic and Data-Driven Approach to Addressing Problem Properties in Trenton, New Jersey
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of Trenton, New Jersey.

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Vacancy and Blight Action Plan for the City of Dallas, Texas
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of Dallas, Texas.

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

The Cost of Vacant and Blighted Properties in Atlanta
A Conservative Analysis of Service and Spillover Costs

In this analysis, the author formulates conservative measures of some of the chief costs imposed by vacant properties in the City of Atlanta.

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

Building a Strategic, Data-Driven Code Enforcement Program for Gary, Indiana
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City of Gary, Indiana.

Land Banks

Land Banks and Land Banking, 2nd Edition
The Authoritative Resource on Modern Land Banking

Land Banks and Land Banking, 2nd Ed., provides clear historic context about the development of land banking and foundational information about when a land bank is the right tool, and the fundamentals of how land banks work.

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Evaluation of the Tri-COG Land Bank Business Plan
A Solid Foundation for a Regional Approach to Vacancy and Abandonment in the Mon Valley and Beyond

Community Progress evaluates the 2014 Tri-COG Land Bank Business Plan, recognizes and commends key elements, and details areas for further improvement.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis

Judicial In Rem Code Enforcement and Judicial In Rem Tax Sales
Optimum Tools to Combat Vacancy and Abandonment in Atlanta

This report identifies the optimum legal and policy response to vacant, abandoned, and substandard properties—single family, multi-family and commercial units—in light of the tools currently available to the City of Atlanta.

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

An Assessment of Vacant and Abandoned Properties in Wilmington, Delaware
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2014 technical assistance engagement with the City of Wilmington, Delaware.

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

Community Assessment and Recommendations to Address Vacancy and Abandonment in Uptown Butte
A Community Progress Technical Assistance Report

This report shares the findings from our technical assistance engagement with the City and County of Butte-Silver Bow, Montana.

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,…

Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Exploring Open Data Portals and Data Consortia for VAD Property Interventions
A Memorandum for Dayton, Ohio

This memorandum explores the benefits of both data consortia and open data portals as tools for local governments to monitor, manage, and address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties. The purpose of this research is to help inform the City of Dayton and its partners as they embark on better…

Publications

Topic

Geography