About

Our Purpose

Blight is pervasive, expensive, and has damaging effects on the economic and social fabric of communities. Vacancy results in blighted blocks, high maintenance costs, nuisance issues such as crime and fire, and uncollected taxes. This creates a cycle of disinvestment with the ultimate cost paid by existing community residents.

Direct Costs

  • Code enforcement
  • Police and fire
  • Public works
  • Demolition
  • Loss of tax revenues

Indirect Costs

  • Decreased property values
  • Lack of investment
  • Neighborhood perception
Cost of Blight Study for 38 Tri-COG Communities from 2011.
Financial Impact Analysis of Blight, Delta Development Group, 2013.

Effects on Real Estate by the numbers

23.7% properties in Allegheny County are not blighted but fall within 150 feet of a blighted structure

Blighted properties can decrease non blighted property values that are within 150 feet by 15-17%

Cycle of Blight

Eliminating Blight…

Increases tax revenues

Improves the health of residents

Reduces crime, in particular gun-related violence

Can raise surrounding property values up to 30% simply by greening a vacant lot