Land Bank

Single-story wooden home with weathered paint and "I want to be better" sign

Indianapolis Launches ‘Vacant to Vibrant’ Housing Initiative

The program directs federal funding to the redevelopment of vacant properties as part of the city’s efforts to create more affordable housing units.

January 19, 2023 - WFYI

Vacant home with foreclosure sign.

What Is a Land Bank?

Land banks are public or private organizations that purchase, hold, redevelop, or otherwise manage foreclosed or abandoned properties with the goal of achieving community objectives such as affordable housing construction or public park space.

July 3, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Newark

Newark Launches Land Bank to Revive Long-Vacant Properties

The land bank will assess proposals for the sale and redevelopment of 100 city-owned properties in neglected neighborhoods.

March 7, 2021 - Next City

Detroit house

In Detroit, Continuing the Legacy of Land Banks

While the Detroit Land Bank has had its ups and downs, it has made significant progress in a city with no shortage of vacant and delinquent properties.

September 30, 2018 - Detroit Free Press

Philadelphia Urban Farm

Development Boom Threatens Philadelphia’s Urban Agriculture

As land values rise, more than 200 community gardens in Philadelphia could be lost to redevelopment.

April 10, 2018 - Plan Philly

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Philadelphia's Rowhouse Remedy for Gentrification

Blessed with an innate resilience, Philadelphia's brick rowhouses risk disrepair and redevelopment. Local nonprofits are looking for ways to keep this resource equitable.

June 24, 2015 - Next City

Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval

By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.

January 22, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Pittsburgh Land Bank Approved—With Compromises

Pittsburgh recently approved a land bank to acquire properties when owners fall behind on property taxes. The question about how much control to grant an independent authority, or maintain with the City Council, remains controversial.

April 17, 2014 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Keys to a Successful Land Bank

Philadelphia recently became the largest U.S. city to create a “land bank.” As new land banks spring up across the country, it is important to take a close look at what needs to accompany them if we want to have real impact.

March 14, 2014 - Urban Direction

Behind the Scenes of Philly's New Land Bank Law

In Philadelphia, an alliance of unusual suspects worked together to convince the city to create the land bank. The law isn't perfect but the new land bank will significantly improve the city’s vacant property process.

February 2, 2014 - Shelterforce

Can a Land Bank Help Dispose of Philadelphia's 40,000 Vacant Properties?

Seeking to stabilize healthy neighborhoods and revitalize others, Philadelphia is planning to establish a land bank to "consolidate its inventory of distressed real estate," reports Jon Hurdle. The plan could become a national model.

September 23, 2013 - The New York Times

Chicago Area Taking Aggressive Steps to Stabilize Housing Market

Although the nation's housing market appears to be improving, the foreclosure crisis is far from over. Following in the footsteps of other localities, Cook County, Illinois, is creating a countywide land bank to help address its foreclosures.

January 25, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

Kansas City Puts Down Payment on Clearing Blight

Joining a host of other Midwestern cities establishing land banks to help corral, clear, and repurpose their vacant properties, Kansas City will begin transferring 3,500 vacant properties it recently acquired into a city-owned land bank.

October 29, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Georgia County Banks on Vacant and Abandoned Properties

Plagued by foreclosures, DeKalb County Georgia is buying up properties and creating a land bank in hopes of spurring redevelopment.

August 17, 2011 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.