Promoting Synergies
Much of the Land Bank’s success is that it functions effectively acts as a hub, bringing together local municipalities, nonprofits, citizens, businesses, and community groups. This unique position has fostered numerous collaborative events and projects. Check out a few!
Promoting Synergy in Washington Heights
The Land Bank owns over 200 properties in the Washington Heights Neighborhood; we are a neighbor, property owner, and a vested community partner.
Demolitions and Redevelopment
The Land Bank has assisted several partners with demolitions and redevelopment.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has been a steadfast partner with the Land Bank in working to create safe housing options throughout the county.
First Responders
CCLBA partnered with the Battle Creek Fire Department to establish a permanent training house at 249 Parish Street.
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Marshaling Knowledge & Expertise
The CCLBA has a proven track record of operating with due diligence, obtaining community input, and seeking out synergies. It has established itself on local, state, and federal levels as a transparent, efficient, and innovative organization that is frugal, focused, and tireless in seeking opportunities and funding to improve Calhoun County.
The Land Bank is in regular communication with local units of government within the county and also with citizen groups such as Neighborhood Planning Councils to maintain connection with community needs and goals. Additionally, the Land Bank is active with the Michigan Association of Land Banks, the National Land Bank Network, as well as the Center for Community Progress which holds an annual “Reclaiming Vacant Properties” conference. These relationships are critical for bringing new insight and new strategies to our work. The Land Bank is also active with the Home Builders Association, the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors, the Congress for New Urbanism, and Michigan Historic Preservation Network, which helps to foster an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving.
Defining the Need
COVID-19 has exacerbated the affordability gap by intensifying the state’s housing supply shortage and exponentially increasing the cost of home construction. Staff worked with partners to quantify countywide needs
Securing Targeted Investment
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided funding to the CCLBA to create a land re-use strategy to leverage Land Bank properties in the Washington Heights Neighborhood.
Environmental Highlights
The cities of Battle Creek and Albion, along with the CCLBA formed a coalition to apply for its first Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment grant.
Tapping into ARPA
American Rescue Plan Act dollars were approved by the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners in two separate allocations to the CCLBA.
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Strengthening Communities
The Land Bank has been active in blight elimination efforts throughout the county since it’s inception in 2007 and has managed over 400 demolitions since. Removing dangerous and unsightly structures is one way the Land Bank has worked to improve the neighborhoods where it is a property owner. Knowing that demolition can be bittersweet, the Land Bank has actively sought rehabilitation funding to save and repurpose structures wherever possible in order to maintain the positive fabric of transforming neighborhoods. Active residential rehabs and partner rehab projects as well connecting non-traditional buyers with distressed, but salvageable, through the Transform This Home program has resulted in over 70 revived homes.
Hope House
Purchased from the Land Bank in 2021 and rehabbed through its Transform This Home program, this Battle Creek home was transformed into a faith-based rehabilitation home dubbed “Hope House” through a collaborative effort between Hood Church and Victory Life Church.
Template for Success
CCLBA helped transform a vacant lot to a new build; now home to the first black/minority, locally owned marijuana dispensary.
Activating Vacant Spaces
CCLBA is helping partners in the region reimagine vacant space.
Celebrating Transform This Home
A few highlights of the 50 projects that have graduated from the Transform This Home program. Rehabilitations large and small have both brought an increase in property values and positive community identity
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