The Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey (HCDNNJ), in partnership with the Center for Community Progress, invites you to join a two-part webinar series to learn more about land banks and how to assess if one is right for your community.

Following the webinars, Community Progress and HCDNNJ will open applications for a competitive scholarship program, where two communities will be selected to receive no-cost technical assistance to explore and ultimately implement new land banks in the Garden State.

When
Part I: Land Banking 101: An Introduction to Land Banks and the New Jersey Land Bank Law
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
1:00–2:30 PM EST

Part II: Land Banking in New Jersey: Lessons Learned from Newark and Advancing the Field of Practice
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
1:00–2:30 PM EST

Sign up here »

Overview
Vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties pose significant health and safety risks to residents and neighborhoods and disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. In many communities grappling with widespread VAD properties, land banks are a powerful tool for advancing equitable development consistent with local priorities.

In July 2019, thanks to tireless advocacy from HCDNNJ, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, and other leaders and organizations across the state, Governor Phil Murphy signed the
“New Jersey Land Bank Law” giving municipalities the authority to form land banks. However, COVID stalled efforts to capitalize on this new community development tool. Now with renewed energy for addressing persistent housing challenges statewide, the time is right for New Jersey communities to explore the potential for land banks to address pressing VAD property challenges and advance equitable community development.

This opportunity is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Register here »

Webinar Details

Part I: Land Banking 101: An Introduction to Land Banks and the New Jersey Land Bank Law

Tuesday September 12, 2023 | 1:00-–2:30 PM EST

Land banks are a powerful tool to help return vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties to productive use. Land banks are governmental entities, typically authorized pursuant to state law, that acquire, hold, and steward vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to support equitable community development outcomes. While land banks are not a silver bullet for vacant properties, they can be a powerful tool for disinvested communities to advance community-driven goals in support of more equitable, inclusive, resilient neighborhoods.

This webinar will cover:
• The history and unique functions of land banks in equitably addressing vacant and tax-delinquent properties
• Key provisions of the New Jersey Land Bank Law
• Innovative practices and trends from the more than 250+ land banks operating nationwide

The presentation, including questions and answers, will last one hour. We reserved the final 30 minutes for interested attendees to continue the conversation with the speakers and other attendees.

Part II: Land Banking in New Jersey: Lessons Learned from Newark and Advancing the Field of Practice

Tuesday October 3, 2023 | 1:00–2:30 PM EST

In October 2019, the Newark Land Bank (NLB) was established as the first land bank in New Jersey. Since its inception, NLB has cultivated critical partnerships and instituted innovative programs to support affordable housing development and homeownership opportunities. New Jersey communities interested in forming land banks to address VAD issues in pursuit of community goals can learn from NLB. This session will also discuss a new scholarship opportunity being offered this fall by Community Progress in partnership with HCDNNJ.

This webinar will cover:
• An overview of the Newark Land Bank, its innovative programs, and successes and challenges to date
• How communities can evaluate if a land bank is a right fit
• Information on a competitive scholarship opportunity for New Jersey communities to receive free technical assistance to advance a local land bank
The presentation, including questions and answers, will last one hour. We reserved the final 30 minutes for interested attendees to continue the conversation with the speakers and other attendees.

About Community Progress
The Center for Community Progress helps people to transform vacant spaces into vibrant places. Since 2010, their team of experts has provided urban, suburban, and rural communities battling systemic vacancy with the policies, tools, and resources needed to address the full cycle of property revitalization. As the only national nonprofit dedicated to tackling vacant properties, Community Progress drives change by uncovering and disrupting the unjust, racist systems that perpetuate entrenched vacancy and property deterioration. Community Progress has delivered customized, expert guidance to leaders in over 300 communities and provided hundreds of hours of free educational resources as well as leadership programming to help policymakers, practitioners, and community members across the country return properties to productive use. To learn more and get help for your community, visit communityprogress.org.