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Council committee endorses regional land‑bank interlocal agreement, including city startup funding
Summary
A committee recommended a resolution to create a Saint Joseph County regional land bank that would acquire and repurpose abandoned properties; the city pledged startup and early operating funds and the plan includes philanthropic capital and an endowment to support operations.
The Community Investment Committee recommended the council approve an interlocal agreement to create a Saint Joseph County regional land bank, a nonprofit entity empowered under state law to acquire, hold, clear title to, rehabilitate or disposition abandoned and tax‑delinquent property.
Deputy director Joe Molnar explained the county and city partnership and the operational plan: “The city would provide $500,000 upfront startup costs and $300,000 annually for the first four years in order to get them funding to start operating,” he told the committee. The plan calls for county participation, Maycog staff to operate the land bank, and philanthropic capitalization. Staff said a $1,000,000 Lilly Foundation grant and a $3,000,000 foundation endowment would support early years and generate ongoing interest revenue estimated to produce approximately $200,000 annually after five years.
Molnar described the local problem the land bank aims to address: decades of population loss produced many vacant and blighted parcels that are difficult to return to productive use through the tax‑sale cycle. A land bank would streamline transfers from the county tax sale process, clear title, hold property tax‑exempt while stabilizing the lot, and vet future buyers to preserve community outcomes rather than always disposing to the highest bidder.
Michiana Area Council of Governments executive director James Turnwall and Lisa Slumka of the Regional Housing Collaborative described administrative roles and the housing collaborative’s revolving loan fund; both organizations offered support during the committee hearing. An online public commenter who identified herself as a longtime local advocate also urged approval.
The committee voted to send the resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation later that evening. Staff said the land bank will be targeted at properties that have cycled through tax sale without productive outcomes and that administrative processes and an acquisition/disposition committee will include community representation.
If approved, staff will finalize interlocal agreements and staffing arrangements with Maycog and the county and begin implementing acquisition and disposition policies.
