The city and state are investing $3 billion in rescuing vacant residential properties to promote homeownership and reduce blight.
Baltimore officials are taking steps to transform vacant homes into usable housing to create more affordable housing and eliminate ‘blight,’ report Dillon Mullan and Dan Belson. Maryland Governor Wes Moore set a goal of transitioning 5,000 units to “homeownership or other positive outcomes” in the next five years.
The city is combining state and city funding to initiate a $3 billion effort aimed at repurposing the city’s 13,000 vacant homes over the next 15 years, with $300 million coming from an industrial development authority and tax increment financing (TIF) bonds. “The TIF structure would allow the city to borrow millions of dollars to help fund the acquisition, remediation and sale of vacant properties. The debt would be paid off with new tax revenue expected to be generated by the improved properties.” Unlike prior TIF initiatives, this proposal would cover vacant properties in a noncontiguous area to include parts of the city with high vacancy rates.
Under a new state law enacted earlier this year, Maryland jurisdictions will be allowed to create vacancy taxes to stimulate development and prevent property owners from letting vacant homes or lots languish unused.
FULL STORY: State and Local Officials Eye Vacant Houses for Repurposing
Checking in on Detroit’s Housing Renaissance
Efforts by the city and residents have generated 17,000 new housing units in the last five years.
Newark Kicks Off $1 Home Sale Program
The city sold seven properties as part of an effort to revive blighted sites and encourage housing production.
Vacancy Tax Considered in Toronto
Owning a home with no one living in it could soon come with a penalty in Toronto.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service