Poster #73 - Ownership Networks, Vacancy, and Redevelopment Opportunities: Evidence from Camden’s Waterfront South

• In Event: Saturday Poster Luncheon

Abstract

Vacant properties are a persistent feature of many older industrial cities, yet less attention has been paid to how ownership patterns shape both the distribution of vacancy and the feasibility of redevelopment. This study examines these issues in Waterfront South, a neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey, by analyzing vacancy and ownership together at the parcel level.

The analysis draws on a dataset of 1,001 properties compiled from administrative records and field observations. Descriptive results show that vacancy is widespread, with about 55 percent of parcels classified as vacant. Most vacant properties are residential lots rather than buildings, indicating that vacancy is closely tied to underutilized land rather than solely abandoned structures. Spatial patterns suggest that vacancy is distributed across the neighborhood but tends to cluster in certain areas, particularly toward the outer blocks, while central areas show a more mixed pattern of occupied and vacant properties.

To better understand how these patterns relate to redevelopment potential, ownership records are cleaned and standardized to identify unique property owners and their holdings. This allows for the identification of multi-parcel ownership patterns and the construction of ownership groupings across the neighborhood. The results show that while individual owners account for the largest number of parcels overall, larger portfolios are more often held by government and organizational actors. For example, the City of Camden is associated with a substantial number of parcels, many of which are vacant lots. In contrast, vacant buildings are distributed across a wider range of owners, with no single actor holding a large share.

These differences point to two distinct challenges for redevelopment. Vacant land is relatively concentrated among fewer owners, which may make land assembly and coordinated redevelopment more feasible. Vacant buildings, however, are more fragmented, requiring coordination across multiple owners and potentially slowing redevelopment efforts.

Overall, the findings suggest that vacancy is not only a spatial issue but also an ownership issue. By bringing ownership patterns into the analysis, this study provides a clearer understanding of where redevelopment efforts may be more achievable and where additional coordination may be needed. These insights can help local governments and community organizations more effectively target interventions and design strategies for neighborhood revitalization.

Authors

• Yanan Li, University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• John Paul Rosewater, Rutgers University - Camden
  Presenting Author