Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority adopts disposition policy with amendments, greenlights property platform and first sale

The Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority on Tuesday adopted a disposition policy (with an amendment and subject to attorney review), approved contracting for a property‑listing platform, and cleared the sale of a land‑bank lot to a West Side housing nonprofit for construction of a single‑family home.

The board voted to approve a written disposition policy intended to guide how the authority prioritizes and transfers vacant or non‑productive parcels, but members added a clarifying amendment on the side‑lot program and asked staff to submit the final policy to legal counsel before the document is treated as fully effective. The authority also approved a contract with e‑properties, a software platform tailored to land‑bank asset management and public property listings, and voted to sell 1125 Alpine Avenue NW to West Town Jubilee Housing Incorporated for a developer‑attached sale and expected construction of an affordable home.

Why it matters: the disposition policy frames how the land bank will prioritize transfers (including side‑lot absorption, nonprofit projects, emerging developers and homeownership), attach deed restrictions or developer agreements to preserve affordability and manage inclusion goals, and streamline administrative approvals. Approving a public property platform and authorizing the first sale establish the operational steps necessary to put lots back into productive use.

Policy, platform and sale — what the board approved

- Disposition policy (amended): Staff presented a detailed disposition policy that lays out priorities for property use, covenants and deed restrictions, side‑lot procedures, pricing guidance and an administrative framework. The board approved the policy as amended on the meeting floor, and asked staff to (a) incorporate language shown on a briefing slide into section 3.1 regarding side‑lot goals and (b) return a final version after Bloom Sluggett (city counsel) review. Board members stressed that adoption is conditioned on legal review and that the executive director will have authority to develop administrative procedures consistent with the policy.

- e‑properties contract: The authority approved a one‑time onboarding purchase of the e‑properties platform with a stated upfront cost of $16,100 and recurring subscription fees, with a target “go‑live” date of April 15. Staff said the platform will serve as the public clearinghouse to list, market and track land bank lots, and it will allow maintenance contractors to upload before‑and‑after photos and show real‑time status updates.

- Sale of 1125 Alpine Avenue NW to West Town Jubilee Housing Inc.: The authority approved disposition of a parcel to West Town Jubilee for an infill single‑family build that staff said will be sold to a buyer at or below 80% of area median income. Staff said the expected total project investment is roughly $200,000 and that a developer agreement will be attached to the sale to enforce affordability and project commitments.

Board discussion and community priorities

Members discussed how to balance competing priorities: maximizing affordable homeownership opportunities for individuals, supporting nonprofit developers that can deliver projects quickly, and using the authority to create pathways for smaller emerging developers. Staff emphasized the policy’s prioritization is guidance (prioritization, not exclusion), and members asked staff to return a rubric or matrix to help applicants understand how projects will be scored.

Several members urged patience as staff and the board build operational processes and community outreach; the executive director said staff are preparing administrative templates (deed restrictions, developer agreements, application packets, quiet‑title templates) and a community engagement plan. The authority also discussed the need to track inclusion goals and MLBE/WBE participation and asked staff to report outcomes for completed projects.

Quotes from the meeting

“This disposition policy will provide clear guidance to the land bank authority regardless of who sits on this board,” Doug, the staff presenter, said in a policy overview. Jeff, executive director of West Town Jubilee, described his organization’s experience: “We use a lot of volunteer help, and we partner with churches and other organizations to help keep the cost affordable.”

Next steps

Staff will send the amended disposition policy to city counsel for review and incorporate the clarified language on side‑lots prior to final posting. The e‑properties contract will proceed with onboarding work to meet the April 15 go‑live target. Staff said they will prepare administrative procedures and templates and will return with a draft rubric or scoring framework for prioritizing transfers. The board also agreed to add an April meeting to accommodate budget discussion and to maintain scheduling so staff can present fiscal materials to the commission as needed.