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Detroit Land Bank nominee stresses transparency, resident access as committee advances recommendation
Summary
Donna Gibbons Davidson told the Internal Operations Committee she wants the Land Bank Authority to prioritize resident access, transparency and fairness rather than developer bundling; the committee attached a supporting resolution and moved her nomination to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
Donna Gibbons Davidson told the committee she was involved two decades ago in efforts to form the Detroit Land Bank Authority and said she still sees "much promise" in the agency — but also faults the authority for secrecy and what she described as preferential treatment of developers.
"I've seen secrecy and a lack of transparency, which makes it difficult for people who live in neighborhoods to understand how to access resources," Davidson said, arguing the Land Bank should provide clearer inventory information and prioritize residents who want to buy and rehab local properties.
Davidson described past development work with her nonprofit that rehabilitated homes and boosted neighboring values, recounting one block where a completed renovation coincided with a $124,000 sale next door. She also said she has seen parcels sold in bulk to developers at prices she characterized as unfair to long‑standing residents.
During questioning, members pressed Davidson on rules changes she would pursue. She listed transparency and fairness as guiding principles and said the Land Bank should lean toward selling to residents with reasonable proposals rather than holding out for bundled developer projects.
Council members moved to attach the corresponding resolution (line item 9.2) to Davidson’s interview (line item 7) and to move both to formal session with a recommendation to approve. Members also discussed the Land Bank’s role in supporting the mayor’s goal of building 1,000 new homes and emphasized balancing large‑scale development with resident access and mixed‑income housing.
