Vacant Land Regeneration: Novel Strategies for Maximizing Local Impact

Vacant Land Regeneration: Novel Strategies for Maximizing Local Impact provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of vacant land regeneration through the lens of influential research, groundbreaking case studies, and future trends, and equips readers with the knowledge needed to transform vacant spaces into valuable community assets. In a rapidly evolving world, regenerating vacant and abandoned urban land has become a critical challenge, affecting not only shrinking cities but also growing regions where some neighborhoods are in decline. Globally, nearly 150 large cities are already shrinking as a result of depopulation, post-industrial shifts, and poor land management practices. As cities confront this growing issue, a significant shift in urban development approaches is emerging, one that moves away from an exclusive focus on growth and instead prioritizes quality of life, sustainability, and resilience. The book is structured into four key sections, each reflecting a major area of research and practice in vacant land regeneration: urban policy and classifications, ecosystem services and resilience, remediation and public health, and community engagement. With insights from key researchers and urban planners, this book inspires a transformative approach to urban development, one that fosters healthier, greener, and more resilient cities. It is an essential resource for both scholars and practitioners in the field of urban regeneration.

Rui Zhu is an assistant professor in Texas Tech University’s Department of Landscape Architecture. Her research revolves around the intersections of urban regeneration, community resilience, urban analytics, landscape performance, and land use science. She has made significant contributions to the field through numerous publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.

Galen Newman, FASLA, FCELA, is Professor and Head in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University as well as the Youngblood Endowed Professor of Residential Land Development. Dr. Newman’s research interests include community resilience, urban regeneration, land use science, spatial analytics, and built environment performance.