CLOSUP publications

Many cities of the Northeast and Midwest have experienced loss of population and industry since the 1950s. The resulting drop in demand for land has led to owners' abandonment of property and to vacant land after demolition of derelict structures....

Although property abandonment affects many cities, little is known about what becomes of that property or what institutional differences lead to varied outcomes. More rapid tax foreclosure in Michigan, touted as best practice nationally, offers the...

Thousands of gun shows take place in the U.S. each year. Gun control advocates argue that because sales at gun shows are much less regulated than other sales, such shows make it easier for potential criminals to obtain a gun. Similarly, one might be...

Reforming the system of care for homeless and precariously housed individuals and families is a central objective of Washtenaw County’s Blueprint to End Homelessness. This objective recognizes that improved understanding of the relationship...

This study seeks to provide detailed data on the perspectives of Michiganians regarding global warming and various policy options available to reduce human impacts on the earth’s...

Based on two recent studies of the Michigan and national workforce development systems, this report examines how Michigan’s local workforce agencies are coping with the state’s recent economic decline, and how their relationships with economic...

This report examines evidence of Michigan’s continuing economic transition and considers the state’s capacity to reinvent itself by replacing its 20th century industrial economy with a 21st century knowledge...

Parks and recreation facilities are often considered indicators of a community’s quality, as they typically contribute to the health and well-being of community residents. Based on data from the 2001 Detroit Area Study, this report examines park...

This report reviews issues related to public services and facilities, local government performance, and taxation in southeast Michigan, as examined in the 2001 Detroit Area Study...

In early 2005, Washtenaw County, Michigan administered its second annual Point-in-Time Homeless Survey, designed to collect information on all sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons residing within Washtenaw County at a single point in time....

This report reviews transportation related issues in southeast Michigan, as examined in the 2001 Detroit Area Study...

There is a growing debate across Michigan and the U.S. about the relationships between new school construction and community growth. Oft-stated concerns are that the siting of new schools in undeveloped or “exurban” locations is contributing to...

This report summarizes one of the first academic studies to systematically examine the factors that affect the formation and ongoing operations of regional governmental planning efforts related to land use issues. Michigan law (as with many states)...

Many California communities have adopted urban growth boundaries (UGBs) as a means of planning for and managing future development. This report uses data obtained through a new survey of municipal planning officials to explore the proliferation of...