Abandoned Structures

The Abandoned Structures indicator measures the percentage of properties that mail has not been picked up from or delivered to in more than 90 days. Abandoned structures are “symptomatic of other [social and economic] problems,” and “contribute to neighborhood decline and frustrate revitalization”. Furthermore, they are a precursor for other blight indicators, including deteriorated and dilapidated properties, as well as tax delinquent properties. Abandoned structures often fall into decay, which erodes the character of neighborhoods, and these conditions have become more pervasive in a context of suburbanization, deindustrialization, and aging populations. Property values decline if properties are abandoned, which creates spillover effects that negatively impact the values of neighboring properties. These negative population dynamics are associated with other negative indicators including social disorganization. Furthermore, studies show that this type of physical environment influences health outcomes and health behaviors, such as exercise, diet, exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and drug use. Data for the Abandoned Structures indicator is available from the United States Postal Service Vacant Address Data.

Neighborhoodsort ascending Indicator Value Rank
Zion City 8.6% 40
Wylam 20.3% 90
Woodlawn 15.1% 68
Woodland Park 12.3% 60
West Goldwire 5.1% 22
West End Manor 13.0% 63
West Brownville 11.8% 54
Wahouma 27.2% 99
Tuxedo 15.6% 69
Thomas 20.5% 91
Tarpley City 5.0% 20
Sun Valley 6.5% 35
Spring Lake 8.3% 37
Southside 11.2% 48
South Woodlawn 16.0% 71
South Titusville 12.0% 57
South Pratt 21.3% 95
South East Lake 14.0% 67
Smithfield Estates 11.9% 56
Smithfield 17.7% 82
Sherman Heights 5.0% 20
Sandusky 12.1% 58
Roosevelt 5.2% 27
Roebuck Springs 3.9% 10
Roebuck 8.2% 36
Rising - West Princeton 10.1% 46
Riley 16.6% 78
Redmont Park 3.1% 5
Powderly 9.6% 44
Pine Knoll Vista 3.8% 7
Penfield Park 3.8% 7
Oxmoor 1.9% 2
Overton 2.3% 3
Oakwood Place 16.4% 77
Oak Ridge Park 12.5% 61
Oak Ridge 4.9% 19
Norwood 18.0% 83
North Titusville 21.4% 96
North Pratt 12.2% 59
North East Lake 8.8% 43
North Birmingham 11.2% 48
North Avondale 13.8% 65
Mason City 3.9% 10
Maple Grove 3.8% 7
Liberty Highlands 8.7% 42
Kingston 25.0% 98
Killough Springs 6.0% 29
Jones Valley 16.1% 73
Inglenook 24.0% 97
Industrial Center 5.1% 22
Huffman 6.2% 32
Hooper City 11.4% 50
Hillman Park 5.2% 27
Hillman 5.1% 22
Highland Park 4.0% 13
Harriman Park 19.4% 88
Green Acres 11.4% 50
Graymont 18.1% 84
Grasselli Heights 5.1% 22
Glen Iris 6.2% 32
Germania Park 16.2% 75
Gate City 12.5% 61
Garden Highlands 4.8% 18
Fountain Heights 16.8% 80
Forest Park 8.4% 39
Five Points South 6.1% 31
Fairview 20.8% 93
Fairmont 19.3% 87
Evergreen 11.8% 54
Ensley Highlands 16.1% 73
Ensley 15.8% 70
Enon Ridge 20.8% 93
Echo Highlands 4.0% 13
Eastwood 8.3% 37
East Thomas 20.6% 92
East Lake 19.8% 89
East Brownville 5.1% 22
East Birmingham 18.5% 85
East Avondale 8.6% 40
Druid Hills 13.8% 65
Dolomite 1.6% 1
Crestwood South 2.9% 4
Crestwood North 4.1% 15
Crestline 4.3% 17
Collegeville 16.3% 76
College Hills 18.7% 86
Central Pratt 16.7% 79
Central Park 11.0% 47
Central City 11.4% 50
Bush Hills 13.1% 64
Brummitt Heights 3.6% 6
Brownsville Heights 3.9% 10
Brown Springs 17.3% 81
Bridlewood 6.2% 32
Belview Heights 9.9% 45
Arlington - West End 11.5% 53
Apple Valley 6.0% 29
Airport Highlands 4.1% 15
Acipco-Finley 16.0% 71

Key Citations:
1. Cohen, James R. 2001. “Abandoned Housing: Exploring Lessons from Baltimore.” Housing Policy Debate 12(3):415–48.
2. Wallace, Danielle and David Schalliol. 2015. “Testing the Temporal Nature of Social Disorder through Abandoned Buildings and Interstitial Spaces.” Social Science Research 54:177–94.
3. Han, Hye-Sung. 2014. “The Impact of Abandoned Properties on Nearby Property Values.” Housing Policy Debate 24(2):311–34.
4. Helmholdt, Nicholas. 2009. “Neighborhood Effects of Physical Interventions to Abandoned Housing.” Cornell University.