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Commission approves interlocal agreement to establish Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority
Summary
The commission authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the state to establish a Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority, transferring state portfolio responsibilities and enabling the city to acquire troubled or hard-to-develop properties to support housing and redevelopment goals; staff proposed the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority board serve as the land bank board.
The City Commission approved a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the state land bank authority to establish the Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority.
Economic development staff (Miss Reniero, speaker 16) told commissioners the land bank would be a public authority to acquire, hold, manage and facilitate redevelopment of property to meet community goals such as increasing affordable housing and stabilizing property values. She said state legislation that became effective in 2023 enables qualified cities (more than 50,000 population in a county without an authority) to form a city land bank; Detroit is the only other citywide land bank in the state. The resolution does not compel immediate transfers or acquisitions but establishes the mechanism so the city can develop governance, bylaws and operating procedures.
Staff recommended that the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority board serve as the Land Bank Authority board initially and said a subcommittee of the BRA would draft bylaws and operating procedures. Commissioners discussed workload implications, governance, and the need for regular updates; the city manager (speaker 18) supported periodic reporting to the commission or relevant committees. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote.
