The National Vacant Properties Campaign

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The National VacantProperties CampaignJennifer
LeonardSmart Growth America
Ohio Vacant Properties Forum October 24, 2005
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What Are Vacant Properties?
Industrial

• Residential

Commercial
Lots
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The Cost of Vacant Properties
More than 12,000 fires break out in vacant
structures each year in the United States,
resulting in 73 million in property damage.
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The Cost of Vacant Properties
A study in Philadelphia found that houses within
150 feet of a vacant or abandoned property
experienced a net loss of 7,627 in value.
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The Cost of Vacant Properties
Any community with a large number of vacant
properties faces more serious water, air, and
land contamination challenges than one that
doesnt.
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National Vacant Properties Campaign

• Launched in 2003
• Smart Growth America, LISC, ICMA, and the
  Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech
• C.S. Mott Foundation, the Fannie Mae Foundation,
  the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for
  the Arts, the Surdna Foundation, and the U.S. EPA
• Collect and share best practices and bring
  together diverse groups

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Benefits of Revitalization

• Healthier environment

Reconnected neighborhoods
Housing choices
Reduce crime
Increase tax base
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Campaign Goals

• Develop a national network of practitioners and
  experts
• Provide information about innovations and
  research
• Communicate the case for reclamation
• Build capacity through technical assistance

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Campaign Activities Resources

• Prepare disseminate information
• Policy practice forums
• Conduct Technical Assistance

• www.vacantproperties.org

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Technical Assistance in Ohio

• Assessments in Cleveland and Dayton/Miami Valley
• The task
• Evaluate existing initiatives and systems
• ID barriers
• Provide menu of options
• Produce assessment report and recommendations
• Brief stakeholders

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Process in Ohio

• Meetings
• Tours
• Report a blueprint
• Outlines critical steps toprevent, reclaim,and
  reuse vacant properties

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Recommendations for Ohio

• Develop reliable information system
• Increase public awareness
• Coordinate statewide coalition for law reform
• Build comprehensive action plan

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Outcomes in Ohio

• Generate momentum
• Cleveland
• Vacant Property Coordinating Council
• Dayton
• landbanking and information systems

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Future NVPC Activities

• Technical Assistance
• Expanded web portal and listserv
• Upcoming reports
• Community-based code enforcement
• Information tracking
• Museum exhibit
• 2007 national conference

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Contact us

• Jennifer Leonard [phone] x23
• jleonard_at_smartgrowthamerica.org
• www.vacantproperties.org
• www.smartgrowthamerica.org
• www.lisc.org
• www.mi.vt.edu