District of Columbia
Douglass Community Land Trust
1231 Good Hope Rd SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-567-7738
info@douglassclt.org
douglassclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2019
Purpose: To prevent displacement of current and future residents, create community-held assets, and build assets for individuals and families, while ensuring decision-making resides within the community. Fundamentally, Douglass CLT aims to make DC a racially and economically equitable place where people can stay and thrive.
Background: Douglass CLT was incorporated September 17, 2019, as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization operating across the Douglass Commonwealth/District of Columbia, and initially focused east of the Anacostia River. The impetus for the community land trust was a recommendation in the non-profit 11st Street Bridge Park’s Equitable Development Plan. City First Homes (CFH), another DC-based nonprofit, which was operating a shared equity, permanent affordability mortgage program, initially incubated the CLT initiative in partnership with the 11th Street Bridge Park until Douglass CLT spun off as an independent organization. Both entities agreed from the start that any newly formed community land trust would be completely independent and community controlled. In 2017, more than two dozen community residents, most hailing from neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, formed an Advisory Committee to turn the CLT idea into a community-driven nonprofit reality. This Committee sought additional input from neighbors and other community members and oversaw the development of a CLT business plan. Based on this input, the Committee selected the name “Douglass Community Land Trust” to honor the famed orator, writer, activist and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and reflect the aim to serve the entire Douglass Commonwealth (District of Columbia). The Douglass CLT Advisory Committee worked with 11th St. Bridge Park and CFH to grow organizational capacity, and engaged in a deliberative process of crafting the governance infrastructure required to establish itself as an independent, community-driven organization.
Land holdings/Residents: currently around 250 rental, homeownership, and small business units, with a 10-year goal of 750 units
Governance structure: The Douglass CLT is governed by a tripartite board of directors elected by CLT members. There are two classes of membership–voting members (CLT lessees) and general members (DC residents and community members who pay a membership fee). Voting members vote on all matters put before the membership, and can nominate and participate in the election of the Board of Directors. The tripartite board is divided as follows: “Lessee Representatives” representing Lessee Members, “General Representatives” representing General Members, and “Public Representatives,” who are persons with experience and expertise in matters related to community land trusts, community development, community planning, or related areas.
