The Task Force consisting of legislators, staff and community stakeholders was convened in June 2020 and has released their report. Per Co-chair Matt Peter (County Legislature 5th District – D) “blight is both a countyREAD MORE
Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative – Springfield Illinois Analysis
City of Springfield, IL recently utilized Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Fellow Megan Willis-Jackson to provide an analysis, and recommendations to address vacant and dilapidated housing. Recommended changes included changes to; Inspection processes Legal processesREAD MORE
JAMA Study Municipally Funded House Repairs and Crime Rates
Recent article in the Wall Street Journal, discusses a July 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, that “found a tight link between municipally funded house repairs and a drop in crimeREAD MORE
Public Safety Strategies for Addressing Mortgage Fraud and the Foreclosure Crisis
In 2010 a report was released from the Center for Court Innovation supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, titled “Public Safety StrategiesREAD MORE
Comcate Webinar “How to Combat Vacant Property Blight with VPROs”
MuniReg President Michael Halpern was privileged to conduct a webinar titled “How to Combat Vacant Property Blight with VPROs”. In this webinar, Halpern provided an overview of the evolution of “Vacant Property Registration” ordinances, howREAD MORE
Continuing Educational Resources
Continuing Educational Resources Often state-specific presentation, though directed to a specific audience, provide additional insight and solutions into what are common concerns or issues. West Virginia University “BAD (Brownfield, Abandoned, Dilapidated) Buildings Program” is continuingREAD MORE
Money Well Spent – Land Banks
A recent study by Youngstown State University Williamson College of Business demonstrates a solid ROI. $21 million utilized to demolish abandoned homes, rehabilitate others and spruce up abandoned lots across Mahoning County (Ohio) returned $33.2READ MORE
SACA “Using Vacant Property Registration Ordinances”
The Standards and Codes Academy hosted an webinar with MuniReg President Michael Halpern presenting on the topic of vacant property registries. In addition to the overall discussion of what is a “VPRO” and what itREAD MORE
The Power to Stabilize Neighborhoods
In a new study, Karen Black with May 8 Consulting Research “summarizes the existing research about the effectiveness of certain policy interventions to help stabilize low- and moderate-income neighborhoods after a macroeconomic shock. This documentREAD MORE
Department of Justice Guide “Addressing Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties”
This Department of Justice guide :offers ideas to help policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community partners address the challenges presented by foreclosed and abandoned properties” Included in the guidance was the recommendation to “launch aREAD MORE
Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College Study on Short-Term Rental Units
“Class of 1964 Policy Research Shop” (PRS) students produce non-partisan policy analyses and present their findings in a non-advocacy manner. PRS is fully endowed by the Dartmouth Class of 1964. This endowment ensures that theREAD MORE
Study Determines Blight Remediation Impacts Firearm Violence in Urban Neighborhoods
A study published in The American Journal of Public Health illustrates an impact of blight that most would not consider. The study published in December of 2016 shows the direct correlation between blight and gun violenceREAD MORE