Strategies for the Reuse of Vacant Urban Land: Herron Avenue and Brighton Road

This project deals with an issue that is prevalent in many American cities: what is to be done with excess private and public properties throughout our cities - with special emphasis on former commercial corridors. Through the medium of two case studies in separate neighborhoods of the City of Pittsburgh, the project examined both the opportunities and the challenges to redeveloping vacant urban land. The goal of the project was two-fold: 1) to develop realistic proposals to address the specific needs of these two distinct neighborhoods and, 2) to develop prototypes that could be applicable to other cities and communities. Because the issues involved are so common to many other communities, the conclusions should be applicable as well.