There are 200 community land trusts in the country, so the idea clearly has traction. With three organizations pursuing new community land trusts, the model might soon have a new test bed in Baltimore as well.
Natalie Sherman reports on the growing prominence of community land trusts in Baltimore. Defined as nonprofits that develop or oversee affordable housing and other community assets such as playgrounds, parks and gardens, activists are working to create three new community land trusts in the city. The big idea behind the community land trust model: to keep home affordable through generations of buyers.
Sherman provides details of the activities of Charm City Land Trust Inc., the Northeast Baltimore Housing Initiative, and the New Park Heights Community Development Corp. to create or expand community land trusts.
The article also spends a lot of time offering insights into debate about the merits of the community land trust model. Critics, for instance, worry that homeowners won't benefit by the equity in their homes. Also included in the article are opinions from academic and politicians about whether Baltimore is the right fit for the community land trust model.
FULL STORY: Community land trusts make their pitch
Shuttered Baltimore Hotel Will Become Affordable Housing
The project will create 303 new workforce housing units in a former downtown hotel.
A Dirty Little Secret: Rising Property Values Are Incompatible With Affordability
Rising property values come with positive community development, but this shift can make neighborhoods inaccessible to low-income renters and fixed-income homeowners.
Baltimore Sees Steep Drop in Unhoused Residents
The city exceeded its goals for providing housing and creating new affordable housing units in 2022.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)