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Commission briefed on plan to form local Land Bank Authority, staff to bring resolution in September
Summary
City staff and the State Land Bank described a plan to transition roughly 107 tax-reverted parcels to a local Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority to support housing and redevelopment; staff said a commission resolution is expected in September and outlined administrative steps and governance options.
City commissioners received a briefing on Aug. 27 about creating a City of Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority that would take control of roughly 107 parcels now tied to the State Land Bank and use statutory land-bank powers to expedite property disposition for housing and neighborhood redevelopment.
Economic Development Director Reniero and Joseph River, executive director of the State Land Bank, told the commission that a 2023 amendment to Michigan law allows qualified cities (population over 50,000) to form local land banks. Reniero said the authority would be able to acquire and hold title, clear title problems, issue bonds or borrow funds, and facilitate strategic redevelopment — while remaining prohibited from acquiring occupied properties, competing directly with the private real estate market, or acting as a developer.
Reinforcing the presentation, River said most of the 107 parcels the state holds that are linked to Grand Rapids are tax-reverted and noted that the land bank uses an anti-speculation disposition strategy: properties are paired with a development plan and community objectives rather than being listed solely for market sale. “We’re very intentional about how we dispose of properties and make sure it enhances the community,” he said.
Commissioners asked where the parcels are concentrated; staff said the portfolio is primarily concentrated in the city’s 1st and 3rd Wards. Several commissioners pressed staff on how the land bank would coordinate with existing tools — including the Affordable Housing Fund, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and zoning reforms — and staff said they expect to weave those resources together for predevelopment or pilot projects that can support emerging local developers.
Staff outlined a near-term timeline and administrative steps: bring a commission resolution in early September to authorize forming the authority; negotiate and file an updated interlocal agreement with the State Land Bank; appoint a governing body (the act requires a minimum of five members); and draft articles of incorporation, bylaws and operating policies. Reniero told the commission the resolution could be on a September agenda (tentatively Sept. 10) and that, after administrative filings (including a state filing), the city would become the local land bank.
What’s next: staff said they will return with the draft resolution and the administrative materials, and with recommendations on board composition and how the city might leverage the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority’s existing appointments as an operational option. No formal vote on establishing the local land bank occurred at the Aug. 27 briefing; commissioners signaled support for moving the resolution forward.
Provenance: topic introduced SEG 1517; briefing and public Q&A concluded SEG 2176.
