Land Trusts Preserve Affordability, but for Whom?

An analysis of buildings bought by the city for a community land trust in Boston reveals that many prior residents were evicted just before the sales.

1 minute read

April 3, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Boston city skyline

SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock

A new episode from the Next City podcast highlights the city of Boston’s plan to purchase residential buildings for the city’s East Boston Neighborhood Land Trust, which then keeps housing units affordable for tenants in perpetuity.

The episode features the efforts of a local community group called City Life/Vida Urbana (CLVU), which has done research into the buildings purchased by the city and what happened to their prior tenants, many of whom were evicted by the previous owners before the city purchased the buildings. The nonprofit works with residents to help them fight evictions and access resources.

Community land trusts are part of a growing movement to preserve affordable housing and put decisionmaking power in the hands of residents.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Next City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight