OverviewIn 2019, the Vacancy Collaborative developed its first 18-month work plan, covering 2019-2021. This work plan supported the Vacancy Collaborative through its first few years as it transformed learning into action.
The 2022-2023 work plan builds on the foundation of the first work plan. We have analyzed our progress since the release of the first work plan and have a deeper understanding of our strengths and the gaps we need to close. The work plan prioritizes five action categories with long-term goals and next steps associated with those goals. Accomplishing any given goal may not be achievable in the next 18 months given known resources and the complexity of the issue. However, each specific next step is designed to move us closer to achieving the goal. One or two VC working groups are responsible for working on and implementing each step. |
Work Plan Purpose
This work plan is intended to:
- align and coordinate actions and resources of VC partners
- respond to priorities identified in VC meetings, workshops, and key events leading up to the creation of the VC
- build on and connect to existing efforts, future activities, and best practices
- help demonstrate the needs and support neighborhoods and new partners in becoming part of the solution
- track our progress and remain accountable to build trust
Action Categories and Associated Long-Term Goals
Category #1: Transparent and Equitable Development and Reinvestment |
- Understand and prevent displacement
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Develop an equitable development scorecard for proposed projects in St. Louis |
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Support existing coalitions focused on community benefits agreements (CBAs) (e.g. WEPOWER) |
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Research and advocate for property tax relief legislation |
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Support the property tax relief fund |
- Develop a shared understanding of consequences of historical inequities and population decline
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Develop a targeted public education campaign about the current and historical causes of disproportionate vacancy and development |
- Increase opportunities and capacity for small-scale redevelopment, reuse, and reinvestment (SSR)
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Support neighborhoods in development of historic districts through analysis, connecting stakeholders, and conducting outreach |
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Develop additional events and resources for the small developer community (e.g. networking opportunities, education, mentoring) |
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Identify and advocate for new funding resources for small scale development projects |
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Develop a small-scale developer toolkit |
- Enhance tax foreclosure processes to increase quality of title and quality of reinvestment
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Identify policy, practice, and legislative changes in the tax foreclosure process that could increase amount and quality of reinvestment in vacant tax-delinquent properties |
- Understand tools to prevent vacancy; facilitate development of additional tools
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Work with the home repair network to identify and implement joint projects |
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Support the home repair research grant |
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Update and disseminate the Vacancy Prevention Resource Guide |
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Conduct outreach to overcome negative impressions of forgivable loans/liens |
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Understand and identify the possibility of connecting tax abatement and home repair |
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Develop programming and tools to help homeowners understand and appeal tax assessments |
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Develop resources to connect home repair providers to neighborhood groups and their residents |
- Promote effective strategies for vacant lots
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Create and implement an engagement and outreach plan for the Vacant Lot Toolkit |
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Identify and pursue funding opportunities for supporting development of community projects on vacant lots |
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Create a framework for community led prioritization of vacant lots in conjunction with the Planning and Urban Design Agency’s neighborhood planning strategy |
Category #2: Vacant Property Owner Accountability |
- Use strategic code enforcement and related court processes to increase private owner accountability
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Lead the implementation of the strategic code enforcement project |
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Identify and implement strategies that provide incentives (in addition to current citations) for property maintenance |
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Develop a pilot receivership program |
Category #3: Engagement & Capacity Building of Neighborhood Residents |
- Empower neighborhoods with information, tools, and resources; listen to residents to rebuild trust
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Facilitate presentations and discussions with existing neighborhood groups and networks (including youth) |
- Increase capacity of neighborhood residents to work collectively; strengthen neighborhood association ecosystem
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Create a framework for formal recognition of neighborhood associations to create a stronger ecosystem that is responsive to community needs |
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Develop a neighborhood marketing strategy |
- Increase opportunities for neighborhood-based vacancy planning and decision-making
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Connect to the City’s Planning and Economic Development efforts and identify ways the VC can support pursuit of existing goals |
Vacancy Advisory Committee |
Category #4: Government Process |
- Increase capacity within City agencies to address the vacancy challenge
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Use vacancy data to determine how to most effectively deploy building inspectors |
- Manage vacant properties comprehensively and increase transparency
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Support the Prop-NS program to sell stabilized properties and seek funding for projects with large scopes |
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Finalize and share the Demolition and Public Health Task Force recommendations |
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Identify and implement a more strategic approach to inventorying all vacant properties. |
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Use the LRA process map to identify pain points and opportunities |
Category #5: Collaborative Leadership Backbone |
- Build political will to address vacancy on a sustained and longer-term time horizon
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Work with Mayor’s office and elected officials to align activities and support system for City cross departmental coordination |
Vacancy Advisory Committee |
- Identify and pursue financial resources to support ongoing work of the VC
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Pursue additional funding resources to sustain the work of the VC including City programs |
Vacancy Advisory Committee |
- Track VC progress towards goals
Next Steps: |
Lead Group |
Evaluate long term structures for the VC that best support the goals of the VC, staff, and working groups |
Vacancy Advisory Committee |
Report out publicly on progress of the work plan at least every 6 months |
Vacancy Advisory Committee |
Glossary of Terms
General
Backbone: leading organization or group that supports and facilitates collective impact by guiding vision and strategy, supporting aligned activities, establishing shared measurement practices, building public will, advancing policy, and mobilizing funding
SSR: abbreviation for small-scale redevelopment, reuse, and reinvestment
Vacancy Collaborative Specific
AD: Anti-displacement Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
D: Data Analysis Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
NE: Neighborhood Engagement Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC; formerly the Marketing and Engagement Working Group
RR: Reinvestment and Reuse Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
SMD: Stabilization, Maintenance, and Demolition Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
VAC: Vacancy Advisory Committee of the VC, which is a community-oriented committee made of up private, non-profit, and community members who represent a variety of viewpoints and expertise
Vacancy Portal: the online tool that pulls publicly available data from 12 City databases into one place Vacancy Resources: information, tools, and resources designed to help stakeholders (i) address existing vacancy, (ii) prevent future vacancy, and (iii) market neighborhood redevelopment opportunities in a way that builds on and preserves neighborhood assets
VC: St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative
VP: Vacancy Prevention Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
External Organizations
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
LRA: Land Reutilization Authority, the agency that functions as the City’s land bank (i.e., receives title to certain tax delinquent properties and other donated property); the LRA is staffed by SLDC
PDA: Planning and Urban Design Agency for the City
SLDC: Saint Louis Development Corporation, the economic development arm for the City
Backbone: leading organization or group that supports and facilitates collective impact by guiding vision and strategy, supporting aligned activities, establishing shared measurement practices, building public will, advancing policy, and mobilizing funding
SSR: abbreviation for small-scale redevelopment, reuse, and reinvestment
Vacancy Collaborative Specific
AD: Anti-displacement Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
D: Data Analysis Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
NE: Neighborhood Engagement Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC; formerly the Marketing and Engagement Working Group
RR: Reinvestment and Reuse Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
SMD: Stabilization, Maintenance, and Demolition Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
VAC: Vacancy Advisory Committee of the VC, which is a community-oriented committee made of up private, non-profit, and community members who represent a variety of viewpoints and expertise
Vacancy Portal: the online tool that pulls publicly available data from 12 City databases into one place Vacancy Resources: information, tools, and resources designed to help stakeholders (i) address existing vacancy, (ii) prevent future vacancy, and (iii) market neighborhood redevelopment opportunities in a way that builds on and preserves neighborhood assets
VC: St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative
VP: Vacancy Prevention Working Group, one of six cross-sector working groups of the VC
External Organizations
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
LRA: Land Reutilization Authority, the agency that functions as the City’s land bank (i.e., receives title to certain tax delinquent properties and other donated property); the LRA is staffed by SLDC
PDA: Planning and Urban Design Agency for the City
SLDC: Saint Louis Development Corporation, the economic development arm for the City
