Dallas partners with CFT to streamline land bank for affordable housing

Dallas is launching a new partnership aimed at accelerating the development of affordable housing by utilizing its stock of abandoned and tax-delinquent properties. The city will work with the Communities Foundation of Texas on a one-year initiative designed to streamline its land bank program, which acquires vacant lots and sells them at reduced prices to developers.

The effort addresses a significant inventory of unused land in the region. Data published by Southern Dallas Progress indicates that Dallas currently has more than 117,000 acres of vacant land, an increase from over 90,000 acres identified in a nationwide study three years ago. As of mid-September, city records show more than 26,800 vacant properties, with nearly one in ten owned by the public.

Approximately two-thirds of these lots are located south of Interstate 30.

Wayne White, president and CEO of the Communities Foundation of Texas, stated that the land bank has the potential to transform blighted properties into homes for families with limited housing access. He noted that the benefits of this collaboration could extend across the community and future generations.

City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the city's most urgent needs. Thor Erickson, who leads the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment, added that the initiative will help deliver housing more efficiently to communities with the greatest need.

The land bank program is set to move into the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment during the upcoming fiscal year. This office focuses on reducing homelessness and expanding affordable housing options.

Despite the new partnership, some local advocates remain cautious about the potential impact. James McGee, who leads Southern Dallas Progress, expressed skepticism regarding whether the collaboration will result in thorough improvements to the land bank system. He noted that lots in underserved communities often require costly infrastructure repairs, making them less appealing to developers, particularly if bureaucratic delays are lengthy.

McGee suggested that contractors may be reluctant to engage with a slow process that yields lower profits. He urged the city to examine nationally successful programs and consider better monitoring of how land bank lots are managed.

The challenges with development in southern Dallas are linked to historical policies. More than a third of the city's vacant properties are located in formerly redlined areas, where residents faced discriminatory banking practices and disinvestment over generations.

Source: dallasnews.com.

Sources

The Dallas Morning News