What is the Vacant Land Advocacy Network?

The Vacant Land Advocacy Network (VLAN) is a coalition of resident advocates who champion solutions to vacant land issues in the Pittsburgh area. With over 100 active members, VLAN aims to harness our collective power to advocate for meaningful change. Through VLAN’s workshops, calls to action, and events to speak to policymakers, Grounded will provide members with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to participate in policy-making and development that shape their neighborhoods and communities. 

Grounded believes that residents in hypervacant communities have the best insight on what changes will be most effective in addressing vacant and abandoned properties in their neighborhoods. With Grounded’s expertise in urban vacant land reuse and our connections to residents across the city and county, we believe that the Vacant Land Advocacy Network can create catalytic change in the communities that have been most impacted by hypervacancy.