Thriving communities institute

Questions and answers about our urban land conservation program

urbanWhat is the Thriving Communities Institute?

Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Thriving Communities Institute will take a region-wide approach to revitalizing northern Ohio’s urban centers by leading the planning of how to transform vacant and abandoned property into new opportunity. Thriving Communities is headed by Jim Rokakis, former treasurer of Cuyahoga County, founder of the Ohio land banking movement and nationally recognized leader in foreclosure prevention efforts. Western Reserve Land Conservancy is the leading land conservation organization in northern Ohio and will lend to the project its expertise in land-use planning, public funding and land transactions. Western Reserve Land Conservancy is excited to help Thriving Communities provide local governments with the tools necessary to implement effective and intelligent land use policies.

 

What will the Thriving Communities Institute do?

Thriving Communities will first establish county Land Reutilization Corporations (also called “land banks”) within the 14-county operational area of Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Thriving Communities will develop land banking policies and procedures based on the successes of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation. Thriving Communities will then work with government and community leaders throughout the region to establish their own county land banks.

 

What is a county land bank?  Why do Ohio counties need land banks?

Due to the pioneering leadership of Jim Rokakis, the Ohio General Assembly authorized the creation of county land banks in 2008. County land banks are entrepreneurial organizations which combine the best attributes of a government entity and a private enterprise. They have the important mission of accumulating vacant and abandoned properties by various and versatile methods. Once accumulated, the property can be held by the county land bank, tax free, until the land can be put back to productive use.

 

Learn about history of land banking

Ohio counties need land banks to address the foreclosure crisis. Tens of thousands of vacant and abandoned properties afflict Ohio's communities. These problem properties destroy the fabric of the surrounding communities and result in increased costs to taxpayers. Government alone does not have the flexibility to solve the problem. Private enterprise alone cannot fix it. Ohio counties therefore need land banks to effectively address the problem of vacant and abandoned property.

 

How will the Thriving Communities Institute spread land banking across northern Ohio and across the country?

In its first year of operation, Thriving Communities will help establish land banks in three northern Ohio counties. Thriving Communities will develop tools for the use of county leaders. These tools will include generally-applicable land bank policies, operations manuals, training sessions, workshops, and intensive personnel support for fledging county land banks.

 

As county land banks are set up across northern Ohio, Thriving Communities will also look to help in other areas. Under Jim Rokakis's leadership, Thriving Communities will become a state and regional training center for land banks. Thriving Communities will also help develop land banking policy as it emerges as part of the government response to the foreclosure crisis. Click here to learn more about our approach to establishing county land banks.

 

How will the Thriving Communities Institute fund its work?

Thriving Communities is counting on the support of institutions in communities where it will make a difference. Thriving Communities will ask community stakeholders – foundations, businesses, banks, merchants, property owners, law firms, community groups and philanthropists – to support the establishment of county land banks. Click here to learn about ways to become involved.

 

What will be the end result of effective land banking?

Land banking will help communities survive the foreclosure crisis. The decline caused by vacant and abandoned property will be minimized and kept under control. As communities are stabilized, land banking will allow for an orderly and intelligent re-use of vacant land. This re-use will include the creation of urban parks, environmental improvements and efficient redevelopment of communities. Land banks will allow struggling communities to be reborn after the foreclosure crisis has passed. Click here to read about the history of county land banking.

 

What else will the Thriving Communities Institute do?

Thriving Communities will not just deal with the effects of the foreclosure crisis. Thriving Communities will also take steps to promote alternatives to foreclosure and property abandonment. Jim Rokakis's unrivaled experience and national reputation will position Thriving Communities to take a leading and innovative role. Thriving Communities will work with mortgage lenders and loan servicers to implement foreclosure alternative programs in northern Ohio. These pilot programs in northern Ohio will serve as trial runs for national programs. Click here to read more about our step-by-step process toward thriving communities.

 

About Jim Rokakis

Jim Rokakis is a national leader in the fields of land banking and foreclosure prevention. Jim co-wrote and championed the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 353, the nation's most innovative and effective land banking law. Jim served as the first chairperson of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation while serving in his third term as elected treasurer of Cuyahoga County. Before this, Jim served on Cleveland City Council for 19 years. Click here to read more about Jim.