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A current inventory of vacant urban land in America

Author

Listed:
  • Galen D. Newman
  • Ann O’M. Bowman
  • Ryun Jung Lee
  • Boah Kim

Abstract

Vacant land is a significant issue in virtually every country across the globe. This study presents a current inventory of vacant land and structural abandonment in the urban United States. Using survey data, it analyses vacant land trends by region and city type. Nationally, an average 16.7% of large US cities’ land area is considered vacant, with approximately 4% of city addresses unoccupied. The ratio of vacant land to city size has increased by 1.3 percentage points since 1998 but decreased by 3 percentage points since 1963. Regional variations exist in both the amount and kind of vacant land, suggesting that any ameliorative actions should be designed to fit specific conditions. Cities also reported that most vacant parcels are small, odd shaped, and disconnected, making them difficult to regenerate. Disinvestment, suburbanization and annexation are the primary causes of increases in vacant land supply while growing local economies, population in-migration, and city policies tend to help reduce the amount of vacant land.

Suggested Citation

  • Galen D. Newman & Ann O’M. Bowman & Ryun Jung Lee & Boah Kim, 2016. "A current inventory of vacant urban land in America," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 302-319, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cjudxx:v:21:y:2016:i:3:p:302-319
    DOI: 10.1080/13574809.2016.1167589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank & International Monetary Fund, 2013. "Global Monitoring Report 2013 : Rural-Urban Dynamics and the Millennium Development Goals," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13330.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kaichun Zhou & Anzhou Fu & Can Xiao & Ping Tang & Junyi Zhang & Binggeng Xie, 2023. "Understanding Idle Land Using Local Environmental Characteristics: A Case Study of Liuyang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Ryun Jung Lee & Galen Newman & Shannon Van Zandt, 2023. "Using neighborhood characteristics to predict vacancy types: Comparing multi-scale conditions surrounding existing vacant lots," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 50(9), pages 2594-2609, November.
    3. Zhang, Wei & Li, Yuqing & Zheng, Caigui, 2023. "The distribution characteristics and driving mechanism of vacant land in Chengdu, China: A perspective of urban shrinkage and expansion," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    4. Nqubeko Neville Menyuka & Melusi Sibanda & Urmilla Bob, 2020. "Perceptions of the Challenges and Opportunities of Utilising Organic Waste through Urban Agriculture in the Durban South Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-23, February.
    5. Lee, Ryun Jung & Newman, Galen, 2021. "The relationship between vacant properties and neighborhood gentrification," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Jaekyung Lee & Yunmi Park & Hyun Woo Kim, 2019. "Evaluation of Local Comprehensive Plans to Vacancy Issue in a Growing and Shrinking City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Jin-Wook Lee, 2021. "Evaluating Ways to Form a Sense of Community in a Shrinking City: The Case of the Media Culture Center, Seocheon, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    8. Christine C. Rega-Brodsky & Charles H. Nilon & Paige S. Warren, 2018. "Balancing Urban Biodiversity Needs and Resident Preferences for Vacant Lot Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    9. Gu, Donghwan & Newman, Galen & Kim, Jun-Hyun & Park, Yunmi & Lee, Jaekyung, 2019. "Neighborhood decline and mixed land uses: Mitigating housing abandonment in shrinking cities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 505-511.
    10. Jin-Wook Lee & Jong-Sang Sung, 2017. "Conflicts of Interest and Change in Original Intent: A Case Study of Vacant and Abandoned Homes Repurposed as Community Gardens in a Shrinking City, Daegu, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    11. Jilleah G. Welch & Charles B. Sims & Michael L. McKinney, 2022. "Does an Urban Wilderness Promote Gentrification? A Case Study from Knoxville, Tennessee, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Jing Li & Meng Guo & Kevin Lo, 2019. "Estimating Housing Vacancy Rates in Rural China Using Power Consumption Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-13, October.
    13. Li, Jing & Lo, Kevin & Zhang, Pingyu & Guo, Meng, 2021. "Reclaiming small to fill large: A novel approach to rural residential land consolidation in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    14. Young-Jae Kim & Ryun Jung Lee & Taehwa Lee & Yongchul Shin, 2023. "Green Infrastructure and Urban Vacancies: Land Cover and Natural Environment as Predictors of Vacant Land in Austin, Texas," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, November.

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