Recognizing the environmental, economic, and community benefits of the reuse of vacant and blighted property, the National Trust for Historic Preservation formed the Partnership for Building Reuse in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute in 2012 to enhance opportunities for reuse in major U.S. cities. The Partnership for Building Reuse brings together community groups, preservation advocates, real estate professionals, and civic leaders around the common goal of making it easier to reuse and retrofit these valuable assets.

Untapped Potential: Strategies for Revitalization and Reuse reflects the lessons learned from this multiyear partnership studying reuse in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. This report summarizes the technical, market, financial, and regulatory barriers to building reuse, and offers best practices for policymakers, developers, and community advocates interested in building reuse as a tool to create healthy, equitable, and resilient communities.