A Local/Regional Regenerative Land Bank is a useful method of acquiring and holding land
for many Peace Hamlets. Local/Regional means it is run by local people and the money stays
home. Regenerative means our goal is to live and act in ways that clean up and repair the land,
make the land better. A land bank offers a financial tool to hold land in common, meaning
shared ownership rather than having a private owner. The land bank can offer a variety of
benefits, including being able to offer small loans or pay outs and other kinds of financial
transactions. Local Land Banks have been used to prevent gentrification in older established
communities. Many counties already have a county land bank. Most existing land banks have
similar mission statements.
Sample mission statement from Genesee County Land Bank - Michigan.
Our Mission
The Land Bank's mission is to restore value to the community by acquiring,
developing and selling vacant and abandoned properties in cooperation with
stakeholders who value responsible land ownership.
A Local/Regional Restorative Land Bank will have a focus on provisioning land for human
habitation in a way that improves the ecological balance and restores land using natural
practices. It will plan for regional land use issues, looking to improve conditions using regional
approaches.
Learning about land banks in general
Land banks are public authorities or non-profit organizations created to acquire, hold, manage,
and sometimes redevelop property in order to return these properties to productive use to meet
community goals, such as increasing affordable housing or stabilizing property values.
Local Housing Solutions.org Overview page
https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-policy-library/land-banks/
Land Banking 101: What is a Land Bank?
https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/LandBankingBasics.pdf
- Description:
This document provides general information on land banking. It provides a
detailed definition of a land bank and discusses the four critical elements
to successful land banking. Finally, it provides a discussion of types of
land bank programs, governance structures, and traditional income
sources - Excerpts:
“Land banks are not financial institutions. They are public or community-owned
entities created for a single purpose: to acquire, manage, maintain, and repurpose
vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed properties –the worst abandoned houses,
forgotten buildings, and empty lots.” - “The best land banks do not work alone, but rather develop strategic partnerships
with nonprofits, community organizations, lenders, and local governments – all in
an effort to leverage the resources available to deal with the most distressed land
in the community.”
- “Potential Sources of Income
Land bank authorities typically have access to a variety of sources of income to
fund land bank programs, including: foundation grants, government contracts, land
sale revenues, specific tax collection, developer fees, and rental income. Below is
a description of these income sources:”
Using a Land Bank for Local/Regional Regeneration
Using a Land Bank offers a feasible solution to the difficult issues involved with buying and
maintaining land in common. We expect the Local Restorative Land Bank will handle the legal
aspects of buying and selling land. It becomes a vehicle to allow local communities to
collectively have and hold assets like land and money. This offers a method to bring land
ownership to people collectively. Properties may be donated, or acquired in a variety of other
ways. Disturbed land, surplus land, feral land, vacant and abandoned land are possible sources
of land. Leasing Public land, Land Patent, and Land Grant, are some of the types of land
ownership that may be possible. There are a variety of situations that make donating land to a
Land Bank for the purpose of restoration a rewarding opportunity, including tax breaks and tax
incentives.
An owner could donate their home/property, continue to live there and maybe even get a
monthly payout from the land bank. For example an older person may find it difficult to keep up
with payments and repairs. By donating the property to the land bank they can continue to live
on the land and possibly even get a small monthly check back from the land bank. Other
sources of income for the land bank could be monetary donations, grants, endowments,
restitution, reparations and tax incentives.
Another advantage of holding land in common is that private owner communities often fail. We
believe when community members share common ownership, it leads to greater success in
balancing delicate community matters. Many communities are started by a charismatic leader,
or are a single family operation. Having one person in charge may be appealing to some, but
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most find it unworkable in the long run. When people don’t feel secure about having long term
ownership they are reluctant to invest time or money.
A key to success for any Peace Hamlet is that the larger (local/regional) community is available,
active and ready to do a variety of things. Including but not limited to: buy and sell land,
research regional issues and provide executive support for the Acres of Peace communities.
Leaders in regional planning will want to look at the entire region for planning and prioritizing
activities and resources, identifying the areas to apply regenerative agriculture and other
restorative practices. We want to be active in interfacing with the public and forming opinions
about next moves for restoration.
Land restoration is a key method to reverse the degradation of land habitats and
restore ecosystem health, however, restoration is a challenging and lengthy
process. Restoration requires a close engagement with local and indigenous
communities that share an interest in conserving and restoring lands.
"Land restoration is a key method to reverse the degradation of land habitats and
restore ecosystem health, however, restoration is a challenging and lengthy
process. Restoration requires a close engagement with local and indigenous
communities that share an interest in conserving and restoring lands."
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2022.873659
A Local/Regional Regenerative Land Bank may be responsible for many things along with the
buying, selling, holding, management and restoration of the land.
- Leasing the land to the Peace Havens, who each set up as LLC
- PR, public relations, liaison with people, distribute and collect applications, process the
applications
- Bank “workers’ may be paid. Employees preferably chosen from members of Peace
Hamlets when possible. Keep it in the family. We are forming a kind of family
- Liaison with experts, scientists, activists and other interested parties to consider the
myriad of issues affecting our local region while planning for restoration. We want to look
at toxic areas and practices, waterflow and many other factors affecting degradation in
land matters. This allows us to more effectively remediate damage and restore health to
our regional ecosystems
- The Land Bank can offer micro loans for micro enterprises
- May offer employment. Along with office work there may be other paid work, for example
hiring people to repair, maintain or manage a property.
We want homesteading members to feel like they have long lasting dependable community
ownership. People want to invest time and money in a home when the land is secure.
Agreements will need to be made about ownership of physical structures and economic
enterprises. We expect these issues to be resolved locally with templates available for handling
the many options involved with economic issues.
Starting an Acres of Peace Hamlet is like starting a small business. It can be difficult with a lot of
obstacles. Acres of Peace strives to assist Peace Hamlets to succeed every time. Our keys to
success: common land ownership, peaceful communication, offering tools for ‘getting along’,
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natural building and more. Connection with nature empowers us. Economic independence is
enabled by economic interdependence.
It’s a Wonderful Life is a classic movie from 1943 starring
James Stewart as George Bailey. An angel is sent from
Heaven to help George Bailey, a desperately frustrated
businessman, by showing him what life would have been
like if he had never existed. A key element to the story is
the Bailey Bros. Building and Loan Association. It helps
regular people own their homes. At one point, George
explains to folks, their money is in each other's property.
The angel shows the unfriendly place the community
could become when there is no Bailey Bros. Building and
Loan Association. A Local/Regional Regenerative Land
Bank is a lot like the Bailey and Bros. Building and Loan
Association. This movie shows how much a community benefits
from having their own Local Regenerative Land Bank.
