The Center For Community Progress Blog

“In the past, local governments and private entities have mostly dealt with vacant property on a case-by-case, deal-by-deal basis. But with thousands of properties vacant in a single community or region, that process is not efficient enough to process property in a timely fashion and either return it to productive use or minimize its negative…

Definition of blorft: An adjective made up by the actress, author, producer, Renaissance woman, Tina Fey, meaning “completely overwhelmed but proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum.” Only a few weeks on the job here at the Center for Community Progress and I am constantly…

As fallout from the mortgage foreclosure crisis continues to weaken even the nation’s strongest and steadiest housing markets  – economically diversified cities like Dallas and Denver – it’s time for a new perspective on what those falling home prices mean for all of us … and what we should do about them. It’s easy to…

   By Patrick Morrissy “Comprehensive and successful community stabilization is a goal that eludes most of us – especially in the wake of the foreclosure crisis and in a down housing market – but one organization knows how to do it really well.” Kind words from Patrick Morrissy, Executive Director of HANDS Inc. We always…

As Director of Community Progress’ New Orleans Vacant Properties Initiative, I am particularly thrilled to announce the location of our fourth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference in 2012. It’s New Orleans! The theme for next year’s conference is “Remaking America for the 21st Century.” New Orleans, of course, is a perfect setting in which to…

A suit just filed by Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is charging Deutsche Bank with creating a public nuisance in allowing vacant, foreclosed properties to fall into such disrepair that they are blighting city neighborhoods. At Community Progress, we will, of course, be watching this case as it makes its way through the courts. …

We continue to seek  synergies  between the important work of the Center for Community Progress, turning problem properties into vibrant places, and our work at the Cornerstone Partnership, to encourage long-term affordable homeownership strategies.  Both strategies promote long-term stewardship of land resources by better managing vacant and abandoned land (Community Progress) and by encouraging homeownership…

One of the most challenging and important problems for older cities, particularly those that have lost much of their population, is how to not only stabilize still-vital neighborhoods, but make them communities of choice – places where people who live there already want to stay, and where people from elsewhere want to move into. How…

At a time when record numbers of foreclosures are undermining the well-being of millions of families and the well-being if not the very viability of thousands of urban, suburban and rural communities throughout the U.S. we are both shocked and troubled by the decision by Congress and the Administration to end funding for housing counselors…

I have the distinct honor of joining former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, former Columbus, OH Mayor Greg Lashutka, Dan Kildee, Frank Alexander, and about 80 other experts from the United States and Europe this weekend to help set an agenda for cities in this country that are experiencing severe population loss. These are cities where…