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Combinatorial Optimization for Urban Planning: Strategic Demolition of Abandoned Houses in Baltimore, MD

Author

Listed:
  • Philip ME Garboden

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa)

  • Lenny Fan

    (Department of Applied Math and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University)

  • Tamas Budavari

    (Department of Applied Math and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University)

  • Amitabh Basu

    (Department of Applied Math and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University)

  • John David Evans

    (Department of Housing and Community Development, Baltimore City)

Abstract

In 2017, Baltimore City was awarded $75 million dollars earmarked for the targeted demolition of a portion of its 16,000 vacant and aban- doned buildings. Selecting an optimal set of demolition targets is difficult given that the cost per demolition is not independent of the overall demolition pattern; like many older cities, Baltimore’s aban- doned housing includes a large number of attached rowhouses, which require the construction of retaining walls when a demolished home abuts a non-demolished home. In this paper, we present a method by which planners can use integer linear programming to identify optimal demolition targets for a number of potential objectives. The simplest objective, demolishing the maximum number of houses for a specific budget, is compared to more complex functions that attempt to proxy improved quality of life resulting from the demolitions. The results of different objective functions are then assessed in terms of equity and efficiency using the spatial distribution of proposed targets as a point of comparison.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip ME Garboden & Lenny Fan & Tamas Budavari & Amitabh Basu & John David Evans, 2019. "Combinatorial Optimization for Urban Planning: Strategic Demolition of Abandoned Houses in Baltimore, MD," Working Papers 2019-5, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
    • Handle: RePEc:hae:wpaper:2019-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Hye-Sung Han, 2014. "The Impact of Abandoned Properties on Nearby Property Values," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 311-334, April.
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