In May 2018 the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (MA) issued a report titled “Vacant and Abandoned Buildings: Toolkit for Town Officials” Per the report, the objective is to provide “Guidance for towns on formingREAD MORE
Nuisance Property Ordinance Guides
Enterprise Community Partners 2001 Guide , “Solving Chronic Nuisance Problems: A Guide for Neighborhood Leaders”. To access, please click here Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) “Tip Sheet” for nuisance properties ordinance. To access, please clickREAD MORE
IAAI Abandoned Building Toolbox
The International Association of Arson Investigators has available on their website an Abandoned Building Toolbox. The IAAI/USFA Abandoned Building “Tool Box” provides: A detailed background paper that outlines the problems that vacant and abandoned buildingREAD MORE
National Guard “Clean and Seal” Program
The National Guard has an innovative program call “Clean and Seal” providing temporary relief for communities struggling with abandoned properties. The guardsmen donate their time, effort, and tools through the Nation Guard’s Counterdrug Joint Task Force.READ MORE
New York State “Zombies 2.0” – Attorney General James Announces Funds To Combat Zombie Homes And Revitalize Neighborhoods
On July 10th, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced the recipients of $9 million in grants to address the growing statewide issue of “zombie homes” – vacant or abandoned homes that are not maintained duringREAD MORE
Murphy shoots down foreclosure online database measure
A recent article from NJBiz discusses a conditional veto from Gov. Phil Murphy on legislation that would have required the Department of Community Affairs to create an online database and interactive map of residential propertiesREAD MORE
Center for Community Progress Study on Albuquerque’s Potential for Land Banking as Solution to Abandoned Properties
In January 2018 Albuquerque’s Vacant & Abandoned Houses Task Force issued their findings and recommendations to council. In April 2019, the City received a report from the Center for Community Progress who was retained byREAD MORE
Engaging a New Generation and Creating a New Tool in the Blight Fight
A local community in Pennsylvania has tapped in to a great resource, local students from Harrisburg Area Community College and Blue Mountain High School. The initiative to help the borough of Mahanoy City determine exactlyREAD MORE
Successful Utilization of a VPRO
A recent article in the Chicago Tribune featured the successes of Aurora’s (IL) Vacant and Foreclosed Property License program started in August 2016. Aurora’s utilization of the data includes inter-department collaboration. There are still moreREAD MORE
Pennsylvania Restore PA Initiative
In a recent article from WJAC, discussing the Governor’s new initiative, DCED Deputy Secretary of Community Affairs Rick Vilello has a very profound quote. “Vilello says blight often begins with small blemishes. First it startsREAD MORE
Doing the right thing…
I have been blessed many times in my life, and in many different aspects. One area I do not take for granted was the opportunity to witness first-hand how my late father-in-law, an Ernst &READ MORE
Waterford MI Neighborhood Preservation Corps
What a great way to mobilize the community! Click here for an article from the Oakland Press promoting the initiative. The best part is the clear webpage created by the Township outlining the program includingREAD MORE