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.

Cover of the Kalamazoo County Land Bank's 30 for 2030 Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, subtitled Creating a Vibrant Kalamazoo County for All, featuring a twilight photo of a downtown waterway with city buildings and a construction crane reflected in the water.

Land Banks, State & Local Analysis

30 for (20)30
Kalamazoo County Land Bank 2026–2030 Strategic Plan

Executive Summary Since 2010, the Kalamazoo County Land Bank Authority (KCLBA) has worked to address vacant, abandoned, deteriorated, and tax-foreclosed properties in the city of Kalamazoo and…

Community Revitalization

Progress Points: The Cost of Systemic Vacancy
A Brief Primer

What is systemic vacancy and how is it different from just a couple of vacant properties? This onepager provides a brief explainer.

Cover of the report "Breaking Barriers for Under-Resourced Developers: Insights and Recommendations for Developers, Philanthropists, Land Banks, and Other Stakeholders" published by the Center for Community Progress in March 2026.

Community Revitalization, Land Banks, State & Local Analysis

Breaking Barriers for Under-Resourced Developers
Insights and Recommendations for Developers, Philanthropists, Land Banks, and Other Stakeholders

The challenges under-resourced affordable housing developments face and how key partners can support them.

Cover image of the report "West Jackson Property Condition and Resident Perception Survey Findings"

Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

West Jackson Property Condition and Resident Perception Survey Findings
Assessing the Cost of Vacant Properties

What we know about vacant properties in Mississippi’s West Jackson neighborhood.

Vacant Land Stewardship

Progress Points: Vacant Land Stewardship
A Brief Primer

Download a one-page explainer on what vacant land stewardship is, and why it’s important.

Report cover of the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority Strategic Plan by Community Progress.

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Chesapeake Land Bank Authority Strategic Plan
Building on a Strong Foundation for the Next Stage of Growth

Community Progress worked with the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority to develop an ambitious strategic plan for the next five years.

Cover image of the "2025 State of Land Banking Survey Snapshot" by Community Progress.

Land Banks

2025 State of Land Banking Survey Snapshot
Key Takeaways

This one-pager of our 2025 State of Land Banking summarizes survey results.

Cover of the report " Assessment of Code Enforcement Activities and Priorities to Consider in Jackson, Mississippi" by Center for Community Progress

Code Enforcement System, State & Local Analysis

Assessment of Code Enforcement Activities and Priorities to Consider in Jackson, Mississippi
Community Progress Code Enforcement TA Scholarship Memo

How the City of Jackson, Mississippi is using code enforcement strategies to address vacant and abandoned properties and revitalize neighborhoods.

Code Enforcement System

Code Enforcement Training Guide
A Strategic Curriculum for Local Practitioners Nationwide

A guide to training your code enforcement officers to help achieve your department’s ultimate goal: Compliance.

A cover of a memo by Community Progress titled "Louisville Metro Government Code Liens Analysis"

Code Enforcement System, Property Tax System

Louisville Metro Government Code Liens Analysis
Analysis and Recommendations

Analysis and strategy recommendations for using code lien foreclosure in service of neighborhood revitalization while minimizing unintended harm.

State & Local Analysis

Heirs’ Property and Land Fractionation
Fostering Stable Ownership to Prevent Land Loss and Abandonment

Real property passed to subsequent generations via intestate succession (i.e., without a will) is termed a tenancy-in-common, or more colloquially, “heirs’ property.” Property may also be classed as heirs’ property via an intentional simple will that divides real estate assets equally among descendants. With this kind of property ownership, co-heirs…

Creative Placemaking

People in Place
The Case for Bridging Place-Based and People-Based Interventions to Disrupt Intergenerational Poverty

This report outlines findings from a gathering of more than 60 thought leaders in place- and people-based institutions dedicated to ending intergenerational poverty.

Code Enforcement System, Local Analysis

Housing and Building Code Enforcement and Vacant Properties in Columbus, Georgia
An Analysis of Legal and Policy Tools Available

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2019 technical assistance engagement with the Columbus Land Bank Authority to review policies and practices related to problem properties.

Land Banks, State & Local Analysis

Progress in Community, Excellence in Diversity
A Georgia Association of Land Bank Authorities Publication

This report introduces stakeholders to the wide diversity of Georgia land banks and lifts up the potential of Georgia land banks to achieve larger scale outcomes—the impact of which could benefit the work of housing authorities, community development organizations, neighborhood associations, and more.

Creative Placemaking, State & Local Analysis

Trends in Creative Placemaking on Problem Properties
2019 National Survey Findings

This report shares trends, case studies, and survey responses from people involved in creative placemaking and shares how they’re addressing problem properties to advance community revitalization.

Land Banks, Local Analysis

Strengthening the Houston Land Bank
New Legislative Authority to Support Expanded Neighborhood Priorities and Resiliency in Houston

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2017 technical assistance engagement with the Houston Land Bank to support the development of legislation and policy tools that would allow the land bank to ore flexibly address the local needs for land, particularly post-Hurricane Harvey.

Land Banks, Local Analysis, Parcel Data & Neighborhood Markets

Land Banking in Albuquerque
Feasibility, Efficacy, and Relationship to Existing Tools for Vacant, Abandoned, and Substandard Properties

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2018 technical assistance engagement with Albuquerque, New Mexico to evaluate the feasibility of land banking as a tool to address vacant, abandoned, and substandard properties in Albuquerque.

Local Analysis, Vacant Land Stewardship

A Review of City Policies and Processes to Enable Five Land-Based Venture Types in Detroit
Report prepared for the City of Detroit's Planning and Development Department

This report shares the findings resulting from the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department’s engagement of Community Progress to examine existing local codes and ordinances and identify barriers that would prevent the creation or expansion of land-based ventures.

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

Preliminary Assessment of Vacancy and Abandonment Challenges in Ogdensburg, New York
Observations and Recommendations

This report shares the findings of Community Progress’ 2018 technical assistance engagement with Ogdensburg, New York to support the development of a more effective, efficient, and equitable approach to problem properties.

Creative Placemaking, Local Analysis

Creative Placemaking on Vacant Properties
Lessons Learned from Four Cities

This report offers a definition of creative placemaking and describes how arts and culture can be used to revive vacant properties.

Publications

Topic

Geography