A single vacant lot in the middle of a block often marks a tragedy: a fire or the death of an owner. West Philadelphia is full of “heir” houses whose deceased owners left no will designating an heir. Without a title, family members cannot sell the house. Clearing the title is a time-consuming, complex, and potentially costly process, so frequently, “heir” houses are left vacant. The abandonment of a single house exposes adjacent properties to risk from rot, mold, vermin, fire, and the potential for illegal activities carried on by squatters in the abandoned property.

For more on Missing Teeth and their potential future use, see Vacant Urban Land: A Resource for Reshaping Urban Neighborhoods.

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