Hidden Value in Vacant and Abandoned Buildings
I began developing the pilot project version of the Hidden Value in Abandoned Buildings (HViAB) platform withDan Fehrenbach,
a programmer with Elevate Energy (formerly CNT Energy) -- a division of the Center for
Neighborhood Technology in Chicago. It's a map based browser tool that shows available amenities and resources such
as transit stations, schools, grocery stores and banks located within a
half mile radius of an abandoned or vacant property.
A very rudimentary version of the tool won runner up at the Urban Sustainability Hackathon sponsored
by CNT in October 2012. Further efforts will be devoted to developing a
more complete and robust database for Bronzeville. I plan to
accomplish this goal through my own research, along with seeking the
cooperation of organizations and agencies already engaged in housing
related issues, as well as gaining the cooperation of stakeholders in
the neighborhoods where vacant and abandoned properties are located.
HViAB and Legally Occupy
This funding campaign is designed to serve as a launching pad for a larger ongoing initiative. As a result, I set my funding goal for $500, the minimum figure set by IndieGoGo. My work on developing the HViAB platform would focus on developing a sense of what amenities and resources are available, what gaps remain, and how to bridge the gaps in successfully developing available vacant and abandoned properties. My ultimate goal is to develop an initiative I have named Legally Occupy, which will serve as a clearinghouse to match financial resources and abandoned and vacant properties, with individuals, households and organizations seeking to develop and/or obtain affordable housing. With an initial focus here in Chicago, the long-term goal is to replicate the HViAB platform and the Legally Occupy model nationwide.
Why Bronzeville?
As a historically and culturally significant area of
Chicago, Bronzeville is an ideal focus for the prototype of the HViAB tool. The Great Migration that brought many black sharecroppers from the South to the North began in 1916, and community and cultural organizations throughout Bronzeville are actively engaged in several projects designed to celebrate the upcoming centennial. The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission is spearheading one of the most exciting initiatives, actively promoting the region as a cultural tourist destination for domestic and international travelers.
Specifically Bronzeville features:
- An abundance of vacant and abandoned structures
- Location close to the lakefront and downtown
- Excellent public transportation options
- A multitude of cultural and other desirable amenities
- Active community involvement
Who I Am
I am a professional writer and researcher who holds advanced degrees in sociology and law from Northwestern University. I am also a longtime Chicago area resident with extensive knowledge of Chicago's housing related issues. For instance, from 2004 to 2007, I analyzed extensive public housing demographic data concerning the Chicago Housing Authority Plan for Transformation, and contributed to writing annual reports submitted to the CHA.
I became involved with sustainability in general and affordable housing in particular in 2006, when I attended World Urban Forum 3 in Vancouver, Canada. Since then, I have been an invited speaker at the Chicago Green Festival in 2009, 2011 and 2012. In 2007, I launched the group Sustainable Urban Development, which now boasts nearly 10,000 members on LinkedIn. I was also invited to
present the HViAB platform by the Chicago Center for Green Technology as part of its Green Tech U program for the Summer 2014 term. I write about sustainability in the built environment as a guest blogger for Sustainable Cities Collective, and in my own blog, Sustainable Urban Future.
The Impact
The reason I first proposed a presentation for the 2012 Chicago Green Festival on converting abandoned buildings into affordable housing was
because I thought it was ridiculous that perfectly habitable buildings
were standing empty while people were facing homelessness. I still feel
this way. It's also all too apparent that although the economy has
slowly begun to improve, affordable housing is an ongoing challenge. My
ultimate hope is the HViAB tool and Legally Occupy will not only match residents who
need housing with residences converted from vacant and abandoned
buildings, but that this initiative will ultimately become a resource to
promote sustainable development in Chicago and across the country.
PLEASE CONTRIBUTE BY PAYPAL IF POSSIBLE.
Funds contributed by PayPal are distributed immediately and will be put right to work in developing the fully functional demonstration HViAB tool. Funds contributed by credit card are held until the end of the campaign (August 2014).
Specifically, funds raised toward this initial phase will:
- Finance GIS training through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) -- $300
- Finance production of t-shirt and e-book to be rewarded to donors -- varies according to amount raised.
- Cover IndieGoGo processing fees -- varies according to amount raised.
Donations in excess of above listed expenses will allow me to devote specifically allotted time to the HViAB project. As an independent consultant, I am only paid for "billable" time. As a result, the time I have been able to devote to this project so far has been severely limited.
Other Ways You Can Help
Please "like" the Legally Occupy andKnowledge Empowerment
pages on Facebook to help spread the word! If you're not on Facebook,
email or plain old word of mouth will do just fine!
Please also feel free to contact me through this campaign to share resources that you know of
in and around Chicago concerning affordable housing, or to ask
questions about the HViAB tool.
