MANAGING VACANT LOTS

Vacant lots present perhaps the most challenging and most exciting new frontier in urban areas. Vacant Lots can be either a liability or an asset to a neighborhood depending upon how neighbors or organizations manage or use them. Turning vacant lots into an area of cohesiveness, strength, and pride is a new goal of many communities in developing a Vacant Property Strategy. In many neighborhoods, neighbors and organizations accomplish this through “greening” or engaging in urban agricultural projects.

Possible Actions or Responses:

Neighborhoods can form code enforcement patrols to monitor the condition of vacant lots and contact authorities immediately when there is suspicious activity or dumping has occurred.

Neighbors, CDCs, and other non-profits can also incorporate the management of vacant lots into their overall Vacant Property Strategy. These community members could work with existing adjacent lot purchase or lease programs offered by the city, county, and state. In addition, these community members can inquire about acquiring or using vacant lots that are located in their neighborhoods even where the adjacent neighbor is not interested in participating.

Community members can explore using vacant lots to create extra yard space, create community gardens where neighbors work together to grow food or flowers, or to create extra green space for residents of the neighborhood to enjoy.

Managing vacant lots requires an investment of time and energy. Communities may maximize their efforts by working with organizations already engaged in this process for information and guidance.