Connecting the lots: prioritizing redevelopment strategies of vacant land in Baltimore City
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2019-02-25
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Towson University. Department of Geography and Environmental Planning
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Abstract
The changing dynamics and inequities of land uses in Baltimore City are reviewed to justify vacant land redevelopment prioritization. Areas of coincidence between vacant land and non-vegetated space are identified and vacant land within is prioritized for green space, residential, or commercial redevelopment using a Multiple Objective Land Allocation (MOLA) model tailored to Baltimore City's planning objectives. A network analysis identifies green space accessibility within the areas of coincidence. Hot spot analysis indicated the clustering of low values (cold spots) of tree canopy mainly in the downtown area along the harbor, while hot spots were clustered in the west, north, and east. Vacant land was clustered on either side of the downtown corridor with one cluster in the northwest Baltimore. This study resulted in three focus areas with prioritized vacant parcels for commercial, residential, and green space redevelopment. The largest degree of coincidence between vacancy hot spots and canopy cold spots was found in southeast Baltimore, while the areas in the southwest and northwest had moderate and low levels of coincidence, respectively. The results of the MOLA analysis suggested that 257 acres of vacant land should be prioritized for green space, 248 acres for commercial redevelopment, and 218 acres for residential redevelopment.