Housing abandonment is pervasive in Baltimore city. This study examines the origins of that abandonment by interviewing landlords, property owners, renters, and homeowners who have either divested their real estate portfolio, own abandoned properties, or are maintaining properties in areas with significant levels of abandonment. By understanding what causes landlords to walk away from their once valuable assets, we hope to inform public policy that can reduce divestment in the future.

This study examines how the Baltimore community of Sandtown-Winchester has been affected by an intense urban redevelopment project, the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, which has taken place over the past two decades.