Community Revitalization Archives

Historical collage depicting racial inequality in the American South, featuring: a Freedmen's Bureau land grant document dated April 1, 1865 referencing Major General Sherman's Order No. 15 ("40 acres"); a Black-and-white cityscape of a Southern city; an aerial map overlay; a group of Black civil rights marchers carrying an American flag; and an excerpt from a federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation underwriting manual (section 233) describing racially discriminatory redlining criteria requiring neighborhoods to remain occupied by the "same social and racial classes."

Community Revitalization

Vacant and “Blighted” Properties in the American South: Historic Causes and Today’s Patterns

Explore through maps where property vacancy and abandonment are the biggest challenges in the South and understand the historic causes behind why it is a persistent, widespread challenge today.

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.

Statue of Rev. Shuttleworth in Birmingham, Alabama (kellyvandellen / stock.adobe.com)

Community Revitalization

Challenges and Opportunities to Revitalizing Historic Black Commercial Corridors

We explore how community engagement, creative placemaking, and public-private investment are helping revitalize vacant and deteriorated properties in historic Black commercial corridors, drawing lessons from Alabama communities and across the country.

a sketched watercolor style illustration of the detroit skyline

Community Revitalization

Five Action Areas on Vacant and Deteriorated Property for Detroit’s Next Administration

Five recommendations for Detroit’s 2026 mayoral administration to leverage the city’s 175,000+ vacant and abandoned properties for housing, open space, and other uses that revitalize the city, and build on progress to address vacancy to date.

Community Revitalization, State & Local Analysis

Vacant Properties
The True Costs to Communities

Compiling research from communities across the country, this report examines the overall impacts vacant and abandoned properties have on communities.

Community Revitalization

Vacant and “Blighted” Properties in the American South: Historic Causes and Today’s Patterns

Explore through maps where property vacancy and abandonment are the biggest challenges in the South and understand the historic causes behind why it is a persistent, widespread challenge today.

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.

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.

Community Revitalization

Challenges and Opportunities to Revitalizing Historic Black Commercial Corridors

We explore how community engagement, creative placemaking, and public-private investment are helping revitalize vacant and deteriorated properties in historic Black commercial corridors, drawing lessons from Alabama communities and across the country.

Community Revitalization

Five Action Areas on Vacant and Deteriorated Property for Detroit’s Next Administration

Five recommendations for Detroit’s 2026 mayoral administration to leverage the city’s 175,000+ vacant and abandoned properties for housing, open space, and other uses that revitalize the city, and build on progress to address vacancy to date.

Community Revitalization, State & Local Analysis

Vacant Properties
The True Costs to Communities

Compiling research from communities across the country, this report examines the overall impacts vacant and abandoned properties have on communities.

Publications

Community Revitalization