About the Land Bank
The Spokane Regional Land Bank was established in May 2022. Its mission is to provide access to low-cost land for affordable housing development.
The Land Banks focus at the current time:
$65,000 GoWest Foundation, operational grants
$135,000 Parcel on Wilson
$270,000 .4 acres on Euclid
$500,000 Federal EPA Brownfield Grant
In negotiation, 50 lots of undeveloped land for 50% of assessed value.
Two other large lots are being reviewed.
The Land Banks focus at the current time:
- Implementing brownfield grant, identifying parcels in need of phase one and phase two environmental reviews that can be used for low-income housing
- Apply for State Dept of Ecology grant
- Working with legislature to draft legislation that can utilize land banks statewide as tool for redeveloping zombie homes
- RFP for two lots due December 15th
- Organizational Document final approval by EPA: Financial policies, conflict of interest, procurement, record retention
- Staffing plan for future years
$65,000 GoWest Foundation, operational grants
$135,000 Parcel on Wilson
$270,000 .4 acres on Euclid
$500,000 Federal EPA Brownfield Grant
In negotiation, 50 lots of undeveloped land for 50% of assessed value.
Two other large lots are being reviewed.
The Board of Directors |
Steve Hauschild, BECU
Luc Jasmin, Governor’s Office Jennyfer Mesa, Latinos En Spokane Alison Paulson, Better Health Together Kristine Meyer, Avista Michelle Girardot, Habitat for Humanity Ben Stuckart, SLIHC Tim Williams, Community Frameworks Chris Britt, Real Estate Lawyer |
The Land Bank Story |
Origins:
In late 2021 the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC) identified cost and access to land as a major obstacle to construction of more low-income housing units. Other states have authorized land banks to facilitate the use of “zombie” homes (bank held property after 2008 housing crash). In 2022 the GoWest Foundation, representing Regional Credit Unions, in partnership with STCU, granted SLIHC $45,000 to start a Land Bank. A LLC, Spokane Regional Land Holding Properties, DBA Spokane Land Bank, was formed in May 2022 and has an operating agreement with SLIHC. SLIHC staff manage the Land Bank along with normal business. In the News: https://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/banking-on-unused-land-for-housing-in-spokane/ https://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/low-income-housing-land-bank-launched-in-spokane/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/31/getting-there-federal-money-could-bring-affordable/ https://www.inlander.com/news/spokanes-new-land-bank-wants-to-obtain-properties-so-nonprofits-can-build-low-income-housing-24390154 Banner Photo by Sven Schlager on Unsplash |
