Grounds for Change: Activating Vacant Land | Explore | Cities

Neighborhood context map showing built and vacant areas. The parcel of land in question is owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

N. 31st St: Reclaiming the Urban Landscape

Philadelphia, PA

An eye-catching art installation-turned-community garden.

Idea

Urban Arboriculture is a design proposal for a large vacant site in Southwest Philadelphia, in a neighborhood once residential but now riddled by empty buildings and lots.

Urban Arboriculture Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

A proposal for tree farm production in Southwest Philadelphia

Idea

Aerial view of green corridors and Urban Catalysts in North Philadelphia.

Ecological Reconfiguration

Philadelphia, PA

New transportation and open-space networks.

Idea

Urban (em)power Boosters

Philadelphia, PA

Combine flexible surfaces with utility lines for instant activity niches.

Idea

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Grow

Use the Grow section to explore innovative methods for planting, growing, farming, harvesting, reforesting, and building productive landscapes. This Category covers subject areas like urban agriculture, community gardening, and urban forestry. Issues addressed include food security, soil science, nutrition, and the socioeconomic importance of safe food production.

Water

In this category, creative solutions for managing stormwater and street runoff appear side by side with irrigation systems, canals, and fountains. Water solutions for cities range from networks of streetside swales to small-footprint greenhouses occupying single vacant lots. Emphasis is placed on reducing impermeable surfaces in cities—these include rooftops, sidewalks, and traditionally paved surfaces like playgrounds and basketball courts.

Power

Alternative energy sources available in urban contexts include solar power, wind power, and biofuels. Efficient green-building solutions and varied methods of bioremediation—preparing polluted urban soil for other uses—also appear in this diverse Category.

Play

Public space, education, recreation, and safety are serious considerations for anyone rehabilitating urban vacant lots. Explore the Play Category to find inspiring designs combining all of these elements in parks, community centers, playgrounds, and alternative transportation systems.

By Scale

Lots

Small solutions can often be the most accessible for individuals and communities, while producing the greatest positive impact. Explore our solutions for Lots to find compact architectural structures, mobile education units, pocket gardens, greenhouses, hydroponic beds, and many other projects for pocket-sized spaces.

Lots of Lots

More space means bigger opportunities: long-term, large-scale operations working to fit the needs of entire neighborhoods. Lots of Lots collects examples of—and ideas for—rehabilitating former industrial sites, entire blocks, and other big vacant sites requiring complex planning. Projects like these offer city governments and corporations the chance to support communities through funding, operational support, and policy change.

Corridors

Building Corridors brings together populations, businesses, and neighborhoods never before in close contact. Explore this Category to learn how urban networks of all kinds—from bicycle lanes to trail systems to small-scale barter economies—can capitalize on vacant properties to effect citywide change.

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