DuPage County staff propose county-run land bank and nonprofit land trust to address “missing middle” housing

DuPage County Finance Committee members on May 27 heard staff recommendations to create a county-run land bank and to contract with a nonprofit community land trust to develop long-term affordable housing aimed at the so‑called “missing middle.” Paul Haas and staff outlined steps the county would take, including asking the County Board to pass a resolution establishing the land bank and to authorize a request for qualifications (RFQ) to select a nonprofit partner.

The proposal seeks to pair a county-controlled land bank — to hold and manage county‑owned or acquired parcels — with a nonprofit community land trust to lead development, long-term property management and resident eligibility verification. The approach is intended to use county inventory and existing housing funds while limiting new county staffing demands.

Why it matters: County staff and board members said the proposal targets households who earn too much to qualify for most subsidy programs but too little to afford typical DuPage housing, a group they called the “missing middle.” Officials said the combined land bank/land trust model preserves public control over land holdings while tapping nonprofit development and compliance expertise to deliver long‑term affordable units.

Staff framed the model as three coordinated tools: a housing trust fund already authorized by state statute, a community land…