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.
Effects on Real Estate by the numbers
23.7% properties in Allegheny County 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