INITIATIVES
The CRH provides technical assistance to communities and local governments for the implementation of strategies for the recovery of disused properties. This support comes in different forms but will always incorporate affected communities and other stakeholders already carrying out work in those areas. Together, we promote new opportunities for affordable housing, civic centers, public spaces and other private facilities, which are essential to the health, safety and sustainability of communities.
01
Public Nuisance Program
An effective program for the identification, declaration and management of vacant and abandoned properties in our municipalities is a fundamental component of any recovery, resilience and revitalization strategy. The CRH worked hand in hand with 14 municipalities to design and implement public nuisance declaration programs. Beginning with the creation of ordinances and regulations, the CRH has supported these municipalities with the training of their personnel, the creation of inventories of public nuisances, the incorporation of citizen participation, the legal processes of formal declaration and the direct management of cases. . For more information about the support that CRH provides to municipal governments, see the " Services " section.
02
Community Land Banks
The Community Land Bank is a nonprofit municipal corporation whose purpose is the acquisition and rehabilitation of abandoned, vacant or dilapidated properties to restore them to productive use. Its implementation has been effective in around 170 cities and counties in the United States. Now, it reaches Puerto Rico through the legislation of the new Municipal Code. The creation of Community Land Banks will facilitate the legal structure to receive properties through the Public Nuisance Management Program and encourage the reuse of affordable housing.
69%
They remain disused and in a state of abandonment.
41%
They present some degree of deterioration or safety problem.
42%
Of the schools sold or leased remain unused.
03
Schools Closed
The Government of Puerto Rico has closed almost half of the public schools. To identify and document the impact of these closures, CRH, together with the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, published a study in 2020 entitled, “Closure of public schools in Puerto Rico: Community impacts and recommendations".
Originally envisioned as a way to generate new revenue for the government, the CRH has determined that the closures have only generated $4.3 million between 2014 and 2019. Closed schools are not like other government real estate, as they are also shelters, voting centers, recreational facilities, and an integral part of the social-community fabric. With that in mind, the following proposal is presented as a reform to the management of closed schools.
04
Vacant Property Analysis Initiative
The Puerto Rico Department of Housing is carrying out an inventory of abandoned and deteriorating properties with the support of the Center for Habitat Reconstruction. This initiative seeks to identify properties throughout Puerto Rico to address the growing need for affordable housing after hurricanes Irma and María. The purpose of community visits is to document the status of properties and share the results with communities and municipalities through informational meetings. For this, photographs of the structure will be taken and important information will be documented, such as the condition of the property, the cadastre number and other relevant details.
