Between 2000 and 2009, a steep decline in manufacturing left over 3 million square feet of vacant space in commercial buildings within the Hickory, North Carolina, (Mick Berry, city manager, and Andrea Surratt, assistant city manager) metro area, especially along the city’s two rail corridors. To address this blight, a council member suggested using an existing list of more than 190 vacant or underused commercial properties and researching the properties for their redevelopment potential. Thus began Operation No Vacancy. A committee was formed to enhance the vacant building inventory tool, designate a commercial revitalization area, unify existing redevelopment programs, create and review applications for a vacant building revitalization grant program, and reach out to community stakeholders. The grant program offers matching funds of up to $25,000 for projects that renovate vacant or underused buildings in the designated area, especially brownfield sites. Since the program’s inception, nine grants have been approved, leveraging about $847,064 in private investment. Operation No Vacancy is revitalizing Hickory’s distressed commercial and industrial areas by using existing infrastructure, rejuvenating old industrial and rail corridors, increasing property values, and improving community aesthetics.

Lessons Learned

• A streamlined process makes it easier to market vacant commercial and industrial buildings.

• Grant programs encourage renovation of and relocation in vacant and underused buildings.

Read about all of the 2010 ICMA Annual Award winners.