Michigan Landbank: How It Helps Communities

The Michigan Landbank is a powerful tool for revitalizing communities across the state. It's a public entity that acquires and manages vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed properties.

By taking control of these properties, the Michigan Landbank can help transform blighted neighborhoods into vibrant hubs of activity. It does this by selling or leasing the properties to responsible developers, who then renovate them into safe and affordable housing, businesses, or community spaces.

One key benefit of the Michigan Landbank is its ability to stabilize neighborhoods by reducing the number of vacant and abandoned properties. This not only improves property values but also enhances public safety and quality of life for residents.

A Michigan land bank is a unique entity that plays a crucial role in revitalizing communities across the state.

Land banks in Michigan were first introduced in 2002 by Dan Kildee, who founded the Genesee County Land Reutilization Council, now known as the Genesee County Land Bank.

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Michigan passed the Land Bank Fast Track Act in 2003, which allowed for the creation of land banks with a range of powers, including the ability to be formed through intergovernmental collaboration between a county and the state land bank.

The state has since formed 48 county land banks, one city land bank, and the state land bank, which serves the remaining 35 counties.

The Michigan Association of Land Banks (MALB) helps bring land banks together to share resources and expertise and advocate for policy change.

Here's a list of the different types of land banks in Michigan:

The Marquette County Land Bank Authority, for example, was formed in May 2009 and has a mission to return tax-foreclosed and undervalued properties to the tax roll while eliminating blight and providing economic development opportunities.

In Michigan, land banks have been instrumental in transforming communities. The median sale price increased 11.5% and the mortgage rate increased 5.6% per year where the Detroit Land Bank renovated homes through the Rehabbed and Ready program.

Land banks have created jobs and stimulated local economies. Between 2009-18, the Calhoun and Kalamazoo County land banks created at least 286 full time jobs in construction, lawn care, and property maintenance.

The Ingham County Land Bank saw a remarkable return on investment, with a return of $1.82 for each dollar spent and one job created for every $72,891 spent improving properties.

Here are some key benefits of land banks in Michigan:

The Blight Elimination Program is a state and federally funded initiative that will invest in disproportionately impacted communities around the state.

This program is conducted in 4 rounds of awards between October 2022 and February 2026, providing a clear timeline for its implementation.

The goal of this program is to attract more investment at the neighborhood level, ultimately leading to increased labor force and household income growth.

Specific eligible activities under the program include demolition or stabilization of public or privately-owned structures, as well as environmental remediation or rehabilitation of publicly owned structures.

Rehabilitation is only an eligible activity for federal funds, which are allocated in Rounds 3 and 4 of the program.

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The Detroit Land Bank's Rehabbed and Ready program saw a remarkable 11.5% increase in median sale price and 5.6% increase in mortgage rate per year.

Renovation efforts by land banks have created jobs in construction, lawn care, and property maintenance. Between 2009-18, the Calhoun and Kalamazoo County land banks created at least 286 full-time jobs.

Land banks have also been a key factor in improving properties, with the Ingham County Land Bank seeing a return of $1.82 for each dollar spent and one job created for every $72,891 spent.

Removing vacant and blighted homes has had a significant impact on crime rates. The Saginaw County Land Bank's removal of 884 vacant homes helped reduce major crime in Saginaw by 20%.

Maintaining vacant lots has also had a positive effect on crime rates. The Genesee County Land Bank's Clean & Green program reduced assaults and violent crimes around vacant lots by 40%.

The Detroit Land Bank has made a significant impact on local homeownership, with about 70% of the more than 15,000 homes sold since 2014 being bought by Detroit residents.

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The Marquette County Land Bank Authority is led by a Chairperson, Jacqueline Solomon, who is a member by statute. She is supported by an Executive Director, Antonio Adan, and a Past Executive Director, Anne Giroux.

The Land Bank Authority has a total of 5 members, including the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer, and two other members. Their terms expire at different times, ranging from 2025 to 2027.

Here is a list of the current members and their positions:

The Marquette County Land Bank Authority is a local government entity with a clear mission: to return tax-foreclosed and undervalued properties to the tax roll, eliminate blight, and provide attainable housing and economic development opportunities.

The Land Bank Authority was formed in May 2009 and meets monthly to discuss and implement its mission.

Meetings are held in Room 41 of the Henry Skewis Annex, located at 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI, unless otherwise noted in the meeting notice.

The meeting schedule for 2025 is available, but the article doesn't specify the exact dates.

The current members and staff of the Land Bank Authority include:

If you're interested in purchasing a vacant parcel, you can find them listed on the Land Bank Authority's website, along with a map and additional information.

The Land Bank Board Members play a crucial role in the organization and governance of the Land Bank. They are responsible for making key decisions that impact the community.

There are four Land Bank Board Members, including the Van Buren County Treasurer, who serves as chair. The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners appoints these members.

The term length for each member is three years, which ensures continuity and stability in decision-making.

Here is a list of the current Land Bank Board Members:

The Michigan Land Bank is working to create more affordable housing through incremental development using land banks and housing subsidy TIF. This approach aims to revitalize neighborhoods and provide affordable housing options for residents.

By utilizing land banks, the Michigan Land Bank can acquire and redevelop vacant or abandoned properties, making them available for affordable housing. This can help to increase the supply of affordable housing in the area.

The incremental development approach allows for a phased development process, which can help to minimize costs and risks associated with large-scale redevelopment projects.

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The State Land Bank Authority has made it easy for residents to find affordable properties. With over 2,600 properties available statewide, you can search, map, and even apply for State Land Bank owned property online.

You can access these properties through the State Land Bank's property search feature, which provides a streamlined approach to finding the perfect home.

The State Land Bank Property Valuation Information is also available, so you can get a clear understanding of the properties' values.

As we explore the importance of residents and community, let's take a closer look at the ways in which we can create more affordable housing. Incremental development using land banks and housing subsidy TIF is a strategy that's being used to achieve this goal.

This approach involves acquiring and holding vacant or underutilized land until it can be redeveloped into affordable housing. By doing so, communities can preserve affordability and prevent gentrification.

By using land banks, communities can keep the land off the market and prevent it from being sold to developers who might build luxury housing. This helps to ensure that the land is used for the benefit of the community rather than just for profit.

Residents can play a key role in advocating for affordable housing by speaking out against luxury developments and supporting community-led initiatives.

Michigan land banks have made significant progress in revitalizing communities, but they still face a substantial challenge. Land banks need consistent funding to address the scope of the problem.

The estimated cost of demolishing properties in Michigan land banks' inventories is $131.5 million, while stabilizing salvageable structures could cost around $100 million.

Land banks rely heavily on local government funding, but this amount is often insufficient to cover the costs of their work. Imagine the possibilities if land banks had sufficient, predictable funding.

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Land banking is having a positive impact in Michigan, transforming vacant spaces into vibrant places. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of land bank leaders and staff.

The National Land Bank Network Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 16-17, 2023, will bring together land bank leaders from across the country. Register by August 31 for Early Bird discounts and be a part of this national movement for community revitalization.