1) How Land Banks and Community Land Trusts to Create Short-Term Opportunities and Long-Term Affordability

Land banks and community land trusts are two complementary and increasingly popular ways to create permanently affordable housing. Land banks can play an important role in transitioning vacant lots or abandoned houses to responsible owners, rather than non-resident, profit-maximizing investors. Community land trusts separate the ownership of the land (held permanently in trust) from the ownership of the building. Because much of the appreciation in most homes is due to the appreciation of the land, this allows for housing that can stay affordable in perpetuity. This session will provide context, definitions, and examples for these two strategies.