More on vacant properties and getting properties back to habitable use (abating nuisance properties)

Reservoir Hill, Baltimore, 2006.

1.  Argh.  Re-reading the piece from other day, I was writing about DC and I said "the problem is working itself out."

I should have been more specific.  In neighborhoods in demand, the problem of nuisance properties is being addressed more by the market, as more properties, even properties off the market for decades, are being renovated because of rising property taxes, citizen complaints (e.g., "Shiloh Baptist Church Agrees to Sell Two of Its Vacant Properties" from DCist in 2009), and basic economics.

In weak market neighborhoods (and weak market cities and regions), like Anacostia, the problem remains.  Although I didn't discuss it in the piece from the weekend, I did discuss it in March, in this entry, "Deeper thinking/programming on weak residential housing markets is required: DC example, Anacostia.

2.  The blog RUSeriousingMe, known for the production and display of great infographics, did a piece, "Vacant properties and neighborhood reinvestment," around the time I was writing mine.

3.  And his piece reminds me that I completely forgot to discuss other strategies for dealing with nuisance, vacant, and abandoned properties in weak markets.

One of the best programs I am familiar with is in Baltimore, the Healthy Neighborhoods program, which targets incentives and support services to neighborhoods that are at best, emerging, e.g., Reservoir Hill yes, Federal Hill no.  The Preservation of Philadelphia has developed a similar program, based in part on the Baltimore program.

These blog entries discuss those programs:

- Addressing neighborhood-based revitalization and resident attraction

- Sexy and fashionable programs don't make blight go away