Troubleshooting & FAQs

Why is the Memphis Property Hub password protected?

The Memphis Property Hub is password-protected to reduce the risk of predatory investment activity that could exacerbate existing issues in distressed Memphis neighborhoods. While the city has faced significant challenges from vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties, the "walk-away" tactics employed by speculative investors do not solve these problems. This type of investor acquires properties cheaply, neglects necessary repairs, and waits for an increase in market demand, often leaving the neighborhood in worse condition (Barlow, Pacello, & Whitehead, 2016). Limiting access to the parcel-level data provided in the Memphis Property Hub helps shield the tool and Memphis neighborhoods from actors whose primary goal may be short-term financial gain, rather than long-term community revitalization.

In Memphis, the effects of predatory real estate investment has resulted in regulatory-created blight as a result of investor abandonment of property without considering the social consequences (Barlow et al., 2016). This type of blight includes properties that, while technically abandoned, are still held by owners who do not see any immediate returns from maintaining them. When large numbers of such properties accumulate, they exacerbate neighborhood decline by attracting crime and further disinvestment, resulting in the destabilization of entire communities (Schaffzin, 2016). So, any barrier we can put in place to deter the the spread of these harmful practices is vital. Thus, password protection.

Protecting this data also helps ensure that community advocates, local planners, and government officials can use the Memphis Property Hub to strategically target reinvestment efforts and community driven campaigns. With the right stakeholders focused on equitable development some of the pitfalls of market-driven speculation and blight can be avoided. To this aim, the Memphis Property Hub provides a tool for collaborative action, allowing responsible developers and decision-makers to focus on revitalizing neighborhoods rather than enabling further exploitation.

How can I share my map filter selections with others?

1. Screenshot (all users)

   • Capture your custom map view or filtered results as an image.

   • When you include it in a presentation or report, please credit it as:

     “Memphis Property Hub by Innovate Memphis / Data Midsouth”

2. Live Share Link (paid members only)

   • Click the Share (chain‑link) icon in the map toolbar.

   • Copy the generated URL—it preserves your current tab, filters, map extent, and any drawn boundaries.

   • Send that link to colleagues or paste it into Slack, email, or a document. Recipients can view the live map without logging in.

If you’re interested in upgrading to a paid membership (to unlock live sharing, data exports, and more), please contact Kira Morin at [email protected].

Why can't I export data?

Data export is a premium feature reserved for paid members. Although the underlying mapping platform (Felt) supports CSV and GeoJSON exports, Innovate Memphis maintains a limited number of licensed “seats.” Requiring a paid membership to export raw data helps us cover platform costs, invest in ongoing maintenance, and build new features.

How to get export access:

• Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock filtered-data exports in your preferred format (CSV, GeoJSON).

• To learn more or subscribe, contact Kira Morin at  [email protected] .

Why can’t I host my own data layers in the Property Hub?

Hosting custom datasets is a premium service reserved for paid partners. Innovate Memphis maintains a fixed number of licensed seats and a curated data ecosystem to ensure performance, security, and reliability. Offering bespoke data hosting in Felt under a service contract helps us cover platform licensing and development costs, provide technical integration support, and invest in ongoing maintenance and new features for the Memphis Property Hub.

How to enable custom data hosting:

• Enter into a service contract with Innovate Memphis. To discuss your needs and pricing, contact Kira Morin at [email protected].

• Contracted partners receive end‑to‑end support: data integration, validation, security reviews, and prioritized maintenance.

• Create or host your own layers directly in the application. Please contact

• User-Generated Surveys: In past versions of the Property Hub, users could conduct surveys and note observations tagged to each property like the Bluff City Snapshot. This feature is not currently available in the mapping software we are using.