A prioritisation index for blight intervention strategies in residential real estate

Abstract

The existence of abandoned or poorly maintained properties, often with overgrowth, litter, and abandoned junk – or “neighbourhood blight” as it is sometimes referred to – is a complex and wide-ranging real estate problem. Its detrimental impact on neighbourhood property values, safety and reputation requires an elucidation of where its causes lie, which in turn requires that areas of intervention first be identified. The need is for multidimensional solutions which take into account different stakeholders’ interests and perceptions. To address this need, this paper integrates cognitive mapping and multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and, based on the discussion of real world cases with a panel of urban planning experts from the Lisbon municipality in Portugal, constructs a blight intervention prioritisation index. The resulting framework was validated by the participating panel members and a representative of the city council, and is aimed at facilitating strategies for intervention and elimination of residential neighbourhood blight..

Keywords:

• Multiple criteria analysis
• problem structuring
• cognitive mapping
• blight
• real estate

Acknowledgements

Records of the group meetings, including pictures, software output and non-confidential information of the study, can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request. The authors gratefully acknowledge the outstanding collaboration of the panel members during and after the group sessions. Thanks also go to Inês Oliveira for her excellent assistance in earlier stages of this project. Institutional and facility support from the ISCTE Business School, University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, is also recognised.