What’s In A Vacant Lot: A Development Risk Assessment Tool

Client: Philadelphia Legal Assistance

When life hands you a vacant lot, make a garden.

This has been the philosophy of the enterprising residents of Philadelphia, a city that, like many in the United States, is home to thousands of properties that lie vacant in neighborhoods from Kensington to West Philadelphia. Rather than let them sit idle, Philadelphians have taken it upon themselves to tend to these lots as their own, converting them into cherished public assets. These properties come in all shapes and sizes, from small side yards to sprawling community gardens that span across multiple parcels. Recently, however, a threat has emerged that could result in the sale of scores of these vacant properties. The City of Philadelphia has been foreclosing on vacant properties in bulk to recover delinquent taxes. Following foreclosure, the City will initiate a forced sale through a public auction known as a sheriff sale, transferring the property to the highest bidder. Neither the original owner nor the neighbors who have cared for the property in the owner’s absence can stop such a sale once it’s underway.

Our role on this project is three-pronged: (1) to visualize and explore vacant properties in Philadelphia; (2) aggregate relevant data on vacant lots to assist PLA in assessing viable legal and policy interventions; and (3) to design an algorithm to predict which properties are at greatest risk of disposition and development.

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