Vacant land in residual urban areas is a crucial resource to tackle the current climate and housing crises. In this study, we present the development of a geodatabase to determine the occurrence of vacant land in the urban core of Oklahoma City, USA (OKC), and assess its potential for infill housing. As a starting point, we define urban vacant land through a literature review. We present a description of the case study’s social and urbanistic context by highlighting its relevance to this study. We explain the methodology for the development of the geodatabase to quantify residual urban land in OKC’s urban core. We examine the spatial distribution and recurring characteristics of vacant parcels using QGIS, Python scripting for Rhinoceros 3D, and aerial imagery. We find that small parcels have higher vacancy rates than average-sized parcels and there is a correlation between higher vacancy rates and proximity to downtown and brownfields. Finally, we discuss the implications of the findings by assessing the urban vacant land potential for residential development and its contribution to OKC’s housing provision. Under all the proposed scenarios, the considered developable vacant land in the urban core could entirely fulfill the need for new housing units for the entire city.

The study provides an analysis of affordable housing in Oklahoma, US. Like the rest of the country, the state’s housing stock does not meet the affordable housing demand, especially for low-income households. The mismatch is currently aggravated by steady population and employment growth, rising housing costs, and a slowdown in housing construction due to high inflation. First, we introduce the topic with an overview of Oklahoma’s housing inventory, providing information on recurring development patterns and building types. We discuss main household characteristics and compare state-level data with national trends. Second, we analyze the gap between household demand and affordable housing supply across the state and its 22 core-based statistical areas. Using an algorithm running the Department of Housing and Urban Development and US Census Bureau datasets, the gap analysis evaluates household groups by income, comparing them to the distribution of housing units based on tenure, monthly housing costs, and unit size. The results are examined through a cluster analysis, which leads to the development of a classification of housing gaps across the state. We conclude by identifying the composition of the housing stock needed to address the mismatch between supply and demand and discuss policy implications. This research presents findings from a statewide housing needs assessment conducted by a cross-disciplinary team from the University of Oklahoma, and sponsored by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, a state organization that offers affordable housing resources, including loans and rental assistance.

Abandoned historic schools in the USA have become a growing concern for urban communities, presenting a multifaceted issue that impacts social, environmental, and economic aspects of public life. Several factors contribute to the abandonment of historical public educational facilities, including demographic shifts, economic changes, and funding cuts. Since the postwar era, the economic and demographic decline of U.S. urban cores has left many interwar-period schools unmaintained and vacant. This neglect has led to informal occupation, declining neighborhood property values, increasing public maintenance costs, and, in many cases, demolitions. Focusing on Oklahoma City as a case study, this paper investigates the adaptive reuse viability of pre-World War 2 public schools. By analyzing 18 schools in the city’s urban core, we explore their typological characteristics through historical research, cluster analysis, and precedent study. Given the current housing affordability crisis in the USA, this study explores the possibility of repurposing historic school buildings into affordable housing, discussing the main design challenges associated with such conversions. Specifically, the reuse of historic schools into multifamily housing offers an opportunity to tackle housing affordability challenges while enhancing community values and meeting preservation goals. The paper concludes with a set of design guidelines outlining key considerations for converting schools into residential use. The findings and recommendations can be generalized to similar contexts across the USA and other global cities facing concurrent issues of urban decay and housing shortage.