Two New Resources From Brookings

Posted by on October 25, 2002

Seizing City Assets: Ten Steps to Urban Land Reform, by Paul Brophy and Jennifer S. Vey, is the first in a series of papers about vacant properties published by the Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and CEOs for Cities. Vacant and abandoned land and housing presents significant problems–and opportunities–in many of the nation’s cities. This article highlights ten action steps that urban leaders might take to turn empty and derelict properties into tax-generating assets.

Land Reform Policies and Practices: Baltimore and Philadelphia, by John Kromer, is the second paper in the series released by the Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and CEOs for Cities. Despite improvements in their downtown areas, Baltimore and Philadelphia continue to be challenged by large numbers of vacant and abandoned properties. This case study reviews the policies and programs undertaken in each city in response, providing a guide for urban leaders grappling with this complex issue.

To download either publication, visit the Brookings Institution Web site.
http://www.brookings.edu/dybdocroot/urban/