When Are Vacant Properties Business Opportunities?

Across our cities, empty shop lots and vacant office buildings are a common sight, a sign of wasted potential. But for enterprising individuals and businesses, could these underutilised assets be the next big opportunity?

We discuss:
- How to identify and define an "underutilised asset."
- The key financial, legal, and execution risks to consider before repurposing.
- Why it's often more expensive to revitalise old buildings than to build new.
- Why community and social capital are a city's most underutilised assets.
- Policy ideas like a "vacancy tax" and "patient capital" to encourage urban renewal.