Land Use

Incubator Program in Chicago Turns Vacant Lots into Farms
   The program, Farmer's for Chicago, is one of the first programs of its kind in the nation and will be implemented over a three-year period.
posted 3/19/13 3:49 PM  read complete story

South Bend Unveils Vacant Land Report
   South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, along with the city's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force, releases a report addressing issues of vacant and/or abandoned properties and how the community can work towards revitalizing them.
posted 3/8/13 4:23 PM  read complete story

New York Plans to Tear Down Robert Moses Parkway Near Niagara Falls
   Local residents and developers led an effort to remove the Parkway in order to help promote eco-tourism in the area. New development in the area combined with existing attractions could help spur economic growth.
posted 2/27/13 07:16 AM  read complete story

Detroit Land Bank to Acquire 8,000 Properties
   This small nonprofit is poised to become a major force in the redevelopment of Detroit's vacant land.
posted 1/25/13 12:55 PM  read complete story

Land Development Will Harm Ecosystems, Study Finds
   According to the study, the country will see a decline in forests, particularly in the South, where the U.S. population is expected to expand most dramatically, leading to increased development.
posted 1/11/13 4:13 PM  read complete story

Philly Moves Closer to Passing Land Bank Measure
   Because many of Philadelphia's vacant properties are tax delinquent, the city -- by way of a land bank -- would be able to acquire them without a separate sale.
posted 12/12/12 1:41 PM  read complete story

Applicants Sought for Second Round of Lank Banks in NY
   Up to five applicants will be selected for the second round of lank banks in New York under a land-banking program signed into law in July 2011. Deadline for submission is Nov. 30.
posted 10/3/12 11:22 AM  read complete story

Land Bank Conference Slated for October in Michigan
   The conference aims to bring community development practitioners together to share best practices on how to acquire, manage, and dispose of vacant properties through land banking.
posted 9/11/12 5:39 PM  read complete story

Park Grading System Can Aid Investment
   Officials at the Trust for Public Land (TPL) say their new ParkScore analytical tool can help planners invest in open space and improve existing park access. TPL's Center for City Park Excellence has ranked the nation's 40 largest cities based on acreage, access and investment.  Ryan Donahue, CCPE...
posted 6/14/12 4:24 PM  read complete story

(PROPERTY RIGHTS) Group Calls for Land Forfeiture Law Reform
   State and local governments should not be allowed to line law enforcement coffers by using federal civil forfeiture laws to circumvent state and local laws when taking land where crimes are believed to have been committed, according to a new report issued by the Institute for Justice. The report, &...
posted 10/4/11 1:22 PM  read complete story