Vacant Land Elements Examples by Type

Nonprofit

Four Fundamental Elements Overview »

Plans

Nature-Based Placemaking
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and PA Downtown Center

Developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center this handbook provides strategies for communities to utilize their natural, outdoor recreational resources as assets to grow and enhance their community and economic development.

Plans, Policy

Vacant Land 215 Toolkit
Grounded in Philly

The Vacant Land 215 Toolkit is a guide for both new and current gardeners in Philadelphia looking to use land productively, understand how to gain legal access to City-owned vacant spaces for community food production or open space, or understand what legal protections are available for existing community gardens.

Collaboration, Plans

East Trenton Brownfields Area-Wide Plan
East Trenton Collaborative

The East Trenton Neighborhood (ETN) Brownfields Area-Wide Plan provides site-specific recommendations for 12 brownfield sites with an emphasis on two catalyst sites that have the greatest likelihood of development and impact. Cities dealing with high rates of vacant land and contamination may find this plan helpful in understanding the opportunities and challenges of putting properties back into productive use in a safe and healthy way.

Collaboration, Context

Restoring Trenton Vacancy Map
Trenton Neighborhood Restoration Campaign

In 2014, the Trenton Neighborhood Restoration Campaign (TNRC) organized the first truly comprehensive, parcel-level survey of all the vacant properties in Trenton — mapped, published, and updated on this interactive website. The TNRC also organized residents and local groups to draw attention to the problems caused by vacant and abandoned properties.

Collaboration

PGH Mobile Toolbox
Grounded Strategies

The PGH Mobile Toolbox is a library of landscaping tools available for free to resident groups and community organizations in Allegheny County to use in the care and stewardship of vacant land and community green spaces.

Context, Plans

Lots to Love
Grounded Strategies

Lots to Love is an online guide for community organizations and residents in the Pittsburgh region who are interested in transforming vacant lots into well-loved spaces. This website, created by the nonprofit Grounded Strategies, connects users to resources and ideas to support reuse of vacant lots, and provides information about organizations currently doing this work in the Pittsburgh region.

Context

Tree Equity Score
American Forests

The Tree Equity Score tool calculates a “tree equity score” for all 150,000 neighborhoods and 486 municipalities in urbanized areas across the continental United States.

Plans

Vacant Land Reuse Guide (Youngstown)
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) has produced a number of planning resources and guides to assist neighborhood groups with grassroots efforts to stabilize neighborhoods.

Plans

Vacant Property Toolbox – Second Edition
Detroit Vacant Property Campaign

The Vacant Property Toolbox provides a broad overview of considerations in working collaboratively to reduce vacancy, and includes strategies for community organizing, marketing, and managing vacant lots. Community organizations may find this handbook useful in addressing vacant properties, while residents may find some of the organizing and planning information useful as they navigate working to address vacancy as individuals.

Policy

Lots of Green Reuse Program
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation

Lots of Green was the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC)’s vacant land reuse program, which operated cleanups and volunteer workdays in strategic neighborhoods, as well as vacant land reuse classes, microgrant programs, and competitions that catalyzed new projects around the city.

Context, Plans

Chicago’s Vacant Lots Near Transit: An ETOD Deep Dive
Elevated Chicago

In Elevated Chicago’s report, a case study of two areas in Chicago near transit hubs discuss the impact of vacant lots as well as the potential they hold for the area.

Collaboration, Context

New Orleans Green Infrastructure Map
Groundwork USA

The New Orleans Green Infrastructure Map is an ArcGIS map, created in partnership with Groundwork USA, Groundwork New Orleans and several community partners, seeks to document the various greening initiatives across the city of New Orleans.

Context, Plans

PHS Green Equity Initiative
Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS)

The Green Equity Initiative by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) is a proposal for environmental neighborhood investment in Philadelphia in the form of neighborhood-based greening solutions.

Collaboration

The Garden Resources of Warren (GROW) Program
Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership

The Garden Resources of Warren (GROW) Program provides technical support leadership development, and educational programming for Warren’s community gardens and operates the Warren Farmer’s Market. Operated by the Trumbull Neighborhood Partneship,

Plans

StormStore Terra Firma Pilot Project
Metropolitan Planning Council

A pilot report from the Metropolitan Planning Council and Emerald South explore how greenwater storm infrastructure (GSI) can be implemented based on local sewer conditions and vacant lot availability for efficient stormwater management.

Collaboration, Plans

Washington Heights Land Re-Use Strategy
Calhoun Land Bank Authority

Led by the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority the Washington Heights Land Re-Use Strategy seeks to revitalize the Neighborhood Planning Council 2 (NPC2) area of Battle Creek, Michigan. Led by the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority

Plans, Policy

Terra Firma Vacant Lot Toolkit
Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative

The Terra Firma Vacant Lot Toolkit provides extensive background on vacant lots in Chicago while laying out actionable goals and steps for others to transform parcels into spaces of dignity. Created by the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative, this toolkit sets out to provide a blueprint for various stakeholders that are interested in embarking on this work.

Collaboration

Vacant Property Task Force
Grandmont Rosedal Development Corporation

The Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC)’s Vacant Property Task Force is a resident-led initiative to target and prevent blight and vacancy in the five neighborhoods GRDC serves. Working closely with resident volunteers, the task force monitors vacant homes with the goal of ensuring that every property is properly maintained.

Collaboration

Baltimore Environmental Equity Partnership
Baltimore Environmental Equity Partnership (BEEP)

Baltimore Environmental Equity Partners (BEEP) aims to foster cross-sector collaboration to improve community and environmental well-being and sustainability in neighborhoods of East Baltimore. BEEP is comprised of nonprofit and government organizations working on community development, community organizing, environmental and health advocacy, and social justice.

Collaboration, Plans

Allegheny Green Web Collaboration
Allegheny Green Web Collaboration

The Allegheny Green Web Collaboration is a network of more than 20 nonprofit recreation and conservation organizations with a vision for connected parks, open spaces, and trails throughout Allegheny County to enhance the quality of people’s daily lives, promote healthy living, and encourage increased engagement with nature. The collaboration manages a website providing an interactive narrative of their efforts.

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