Waterloo, IA

Client: City of Waterloo and the University of Iowa’s Community Outreach Partnership Center

Team of experts: Joseph Schilling, Virginia Tech’s Metropolitan Institute; Lisa Mueller Levy, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Melissa Barry, City of Louisville Metro Housing

Description of work: Dr. Al Hays, a Professor and the Director of the COPC program at the University of Iowa, and the City of Waterloo, invited the National Vacant Properties Campaign to conduct a one-day vacant properties roundtable with a range of city, county, and nonprofit stakeholders. At this June 2005 session, the Campaign shared information about vacant property revitalization models from around the country and facilitated a discussion about opportunities for local improvements. Twenty participants attended the roundtable, a first step in Waterloo's exploration of new strategies and tools for addressing its abandoned property challenges.