To be Abandoned, or to be Greened - 3 views

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  #1 Metropolitan Institute on 04 Jan 12

   

  Abstract: Many cities around the country combat increases in abandoned properties, as these properties often become an eyesore in urban landscape. In particular, old industrial cities where a large number of abandoned lots are left behind try to convert the lots into productive or beneficial uses. Community gardens are gaining popularity as an alternative use for abandoned vacant lots, as they can contribute to revitalizing the communities by eliminating blight and nuisance from abandonment and by increasing food security.
  
  While some abandoned lots are successfully converted into community gardens if not redeveloped to other uses, some lots remain vacant even after cleaned up. What makes such a difference in the use of abandoned lots? This study tries to answer this question by identifying the factors that determine the conversion of abandoned lots into community gardens. Generally, one can expect that abandoned vacant lots in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where income is low, unemployment rate is high, and groceries are absent, are more likely to be converted into community gardens than elsewhere. It is because in those neighborhoods, demand for food and labor supply for gardening is high while demand for other productive uses on vacant lots is relatively low. The characteristics of an individual lot will play a role in determining the conversion, including ownership, lot size, market price of land, and accessibility. Policy environments such as tax incentives and public-private partnerships will also influence the development of community gardens.
  
  In order to identify these determinants of conversion to community gardens, we look at community gardens and vacant lots in the City of Philadelphia. The city has about 40,000 vacant lots, but only fraction of them has turned into community gardens. Using a discrete choice model, we model different uses of abandoned lots at the individual parcel level. Specifically, we identify the abandoned vacant lots that have been converted into community gardens, and examine the determinants of the conversion in terms of individual lot and neighborhood characteristics, and policy environments.
  
  A wide range of data is used for characteristics of lots and neighborhoods. For lot characteristics such as land use, size, ownership, taxes, and market price, we use the Philadelphia Neighborhood Information System (NIS) and a city-wide survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in October, 2004. For neighborhood characteristics, we use published data such as the Philadelphia NIS, Census of Population and Housing, and Census Transportation Planning Package.
  
  The results can be applied to deal with abandoned property problems and to choose suitable location for community gardens in practice. While identifying the abandoned vacant lots that are likely to be greened, the study in effect uncovers the determinants of demand or need for community gardens, and finds the cost factors for greening abandoned lots. This information will be useful in analyzing feasibility of converting an abandoned lot into a community garden.
  
  Park, In Kwon, and Patricia Ciorci. "To be Abandoned, or to be Greened." Paper to be presented at the annual conference for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 13-16, 2011.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Abstract: Many cities around the country combat increases in abandoned properties, as these properties often become an eyesore in urban landscape. In particular, old industrial cities where a large number of abandoned lots are left behind try to convert the lots into productive or beneficial uses. Community gardens are gaining popularity as an alternative use for abandoned vacant lots, as they can contribute to revitalizing the communities by eliminating blight and nuisance from abandonment and by increasing food security. <br /> <br /> While some abandoned lots are successfully converted into community gardens if not redeveloped to other uses, some lots remain vacant even after cleaned up. What makes such a difference in the use of abandoned lots? This study tries to answer this question by identifying the factors that determine the conversion of abandoned lots into community gardens. Generally, one can expect that abandoned vacant lots in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where income is low, unemployment rate is high, and groceries are absent, are more likely to be converted into community gardens than elsewhere. It is because in those neighborhoods, demand for food and labor supply for gardening is high while demand for other productive uses on vacant lots is relatively low. The characteristics of an individual lot will play a role in determining the conversion, including ownership, lot size, market price of land, and accessibility. Policy environments such as tax incentives and public-private partnerships will also influence the development of community gardens. <br /> <br /> In order to identify these determinants of conversion to community gardens, we look at community gardens and vacant lots in the City of Philadelphia. The city has about 40,000 vacant lots, but only fraction of them has turned into community gardens. Using a discrete choice model, we model different uses of abandoned lots at the individual parcel level. Specifically, we identify the abandoned vacant lots that have been converted into community gardens, and examine the determinants of the conversion in terms of individual lot and neighborhood characteristics, and policy environments. <br /> <br /> A wide range of data is used for characteristics of lots and neighborhoods. For lot characteristics such as land use, size, ownership, taxes, and market price, we use the Philadelphia Neighborhood Information System (NIS) and a city-wide survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in October, 2004. For neighborhood characteristics, we use published data such as the Philadelphia NIS, Census of Population and Housing, and Census Transportation Planning Package. <br /> <br /> The results can be applied to deal with abandoned property problems and to choose suitable location for community gardens in practice. While identifying the abandoned vacant lots that are likely to be greened, the study in effect uncovers the determinants of demand or need for community gardens, and finds the cost factors for greening abandoned lots. This information will be useful in analyzing feasibility of converting an abandoned lot into a community garden. <br /> <br /> Park, In Kwon, and Patricia Ciorci. "To be Abandoned, or to be Greened." Paper to be presented at the annual conference for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 13-16, 2011.</div>

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