New York
Adirondack Community Housing Trust
103 Hand Avenue P.O. Box 157
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
518-873-6888
info@adkhousing.org
adkhousing.org
Purpose: Generate affordable housing and economic development.
Land Holdings: Two housing developments.
Governance Notes: Members of the board of directors are drawn from the various parts of the Adirondack Park area; ACHT is staffed by a contract with the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County, but the organization is fully controlled by its own board.
Additional Notes: Initially organized after NY state budgeted $1M to be used by a housing trust to reduce the cost of home purchases for families making less than 120% of Adirondack area median income.
Albany Community Land Trust
255 Orange St.
Albany NY 12210
518-426-1296
albanyclt.com
Date Incorporated: 1987
Purpose: Create long-term affordable housing for low-income residents, combat community deterioration, and educate the public about community development.
Land Holdings: Manages 56 affordable rental units in 38 buildings and has rehabilitated and sold 35 homes. They had 4 buildings in development for 6 additional affordable rental units as of 2020.
Partners: Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP), Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, United Tenants of Albany, New York State's Community Land Trusts Capacity Building Initiative (a program created by the Office of the New York Attorney General and Enterprise Community Partners), Albany County Land Bank.
Better Community Neighborhoods Inc.
670 Franklin St., Suite 2015
518-372-7616
bcnihousing.org/
Date Incorporated: 1991
Purpose: Long-term affordable housing, ecologically-sound land use.
Land Holdings: 25 homes; 14 additional properties available for rental.
Additional Information: Better Community Neighborhoods Inc. was created as the result of a merger between two Schenectady non-profits: Better Neighborhoods Inc. and the Community Land Trust of Schenectady.
Bronx Community Land Trust
c/o Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
103 E 196th St.
Bronx, NY 10468
642-314-6423
bronxCLT@northwestbronx.org
https://www.northwestbronx.org/bronx-community-land-trust
Purpose: to address acute pressures of gentrification, displacement, and generational poverty in the Bronx through a model that allows community members and local stakeholders to collectively own and govern land in their neighborhoods and build shared wealth.
Background: The Bronx Community Land Trust (CLT) emerged from a long history of tenant organizing by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), In the late 2010s, in recognition of the limitations of merely resisting predatory landlords and developers, the Coalition shifted its focus towards proactive community and economic development. This led to the Public Land for Public Good campaign, targeting unused public lands in the Bronx that had been transferred to private developers without benefiting the local community. Through rallies and community visioning sessions, Bronx residents voiced their ideas for transforming these sites into valuable community assets, such as recreational facilities and senior centers. In January 2020, the Bronx Community Land Trust was incorporated under the leadership of NWBCC.
Land holdings/Residents: The NW Bronx CLT has secured significant support and funding from New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. In 2023, the NW Bronx CLT developed plans for new cooperative housing construction on a vacant, HPD-owned lot in Belmont-Crotona. They anticipate the construction of approximately 25 units of homeownership at this site.
Eligibility requirements for residents: must qualify for affordable housing according to HPD’s criteria
Governance structure: anticipate a tripartite board structure once the CLT is fully operational; in the interim, they have a five-member board of directors, composed of two NWBCC staff members and three local community members with housing advocacy and development expertise.
Additional details:
Because the NW Bronx CLT is using HPD funds to finance construction of its affordable housing development, they will be required to follow HPD guidelines for operating HPD-funded affordable housing. One example of this is that they will be required to find residents for the newly-developed units via the city-wide affordable housing lottery, and can only reserve 20% of the units for existing neighborhood residents.
Brooklyn Level Up/Flatbush CLT
(917) 740-8359
https://bklvlup.org/
Purpose: To strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and clear obstacles so that long-time residents of Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Flatlands can drive economic development that builds wealth in the community.
Background: The two founders of BK LVLUP met as volunteer members of the land-use committee on their local community board in 2018. They saw an urgent need to fight the displacement occurring in Flatbush, and to take action beyond what their role as community board members would allow. In 2020, they founded BK LVLUP, which has since incorporated as a 501c3. They are involving community members in the process of formalizing the CLT, through extensive outreach and regular meetings.
Land holdings/Residents: No land acquisitions yet. They are hoping to acquire commercial as well as residential property; creating affordable retail spaces for local entrepreneurs is central to their vision.
Eligibility requirements for residents: undecided, but priority for long-time residents
Governance structure: exact form undecided, but will include a tripartite board. Founders place a strong emphasis on democratic collective governance of the CLT by CLT members.
Additional details: BK LVL UP partnered with researchers Columbia University and Pratt School of Design and found that Flatbush has the third highest levels of soil lead out of all the the neighborhoods in New York City. This prompted BK LVLUP to create programming geared towards soil remediation, and eventually create an environmental resilience hub in Flatbush.
Brownsville Community Land Trust
c/o Brownsville Partnership
519 Rockaway Avenue, 4th floor
Brooklyn, NY 11212
929-252-9286
519rockaway@brownsvillepartnership.org
brownsvillepartnership.org/bnen
Date Incorporated: In beginning stages of organizing and receiving funding
Purpose: The BVCLT will develop and preserve permanently affordable housing for low income households, as well as vibrant public spaces, to assure that residents have power to shape the future of their neighborhood and enable residents to create and build wealth.
Land Holdings: None as of 2022.
Additional Information: New York City Council announced $870,000 in FY2020 discretionary funding for community land trusts (CLTs) across NYC. This is hoped to be used for officially establishing the Brownsville CLT.
City Roots CLT
1115 East Main Street
Suite 207A, Box 16
Rochester, NY 14609
585-576-9900
info@cityrootsclt.org
cityrootsclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2016
Purpose: Create and steward high-quality, permanently affordable, community-controlled land, housing, and other physical assets in Rochester, NY. Two critical, interdependent components of their work help them achieve their mission; property development & stewardship, and community organizing.
Land Holdings: 19 parcels which include a homeless encampment called Peace Village & four single-family homes; Property acquired through foreclosure and defense processes, 2 commercial spaces, and community gardens.
Governance Notes: Bylaws
Cooper Square Community Land Trust
61 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-477-5340
csc@coopersquare.org
coopersquare.org/
Date Incorporated: 1994
Purpose: Contribute to the preservation and development of affordable, environmentally healthy housing and community/cultural spaces so that the Cooper Square area remains racially, economically and culturally diverse.
Land Holdings: Two parcels; leases one parcel with 328 affordable apartment units to the Cooper Square Cooperative; Waiting to close on second parcel's improvements, which include two additional apartment complexes.
Governance Notes: A 501c3 land holding organization founded by the Cooper Square Community Development Committee; CCSLT is separately staffed and governed by a self-perpetuating tripartite board of trustees.
Funders: New York State's Community Land Trusts Capacity Building Initiative (a program created by the Office of the New York Attorney General and Enterprise Community Partners), NYC Council.
Media Coverage: Gothamist: Outraged By Property Sales To Luxury Developers, Affordable Housing Group Takes On The Catholic Church (March 14, 2019).
East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust
c/o Picture the Homeless
104 East 126th Street
New York, NY 10035
646-314-6423
sam@picturethehomeless.org
picturethehomeless.org/whatwedo/homeless-housing/community-land-trusts-the-homeless/
Purpose: The EHEBCLT is focused on developing and preserving community-controlled, truly and permanently affordable housing, as well as commercial, green, and cultural spaces in East Harlem/El Barrio.
Background: The EHEBCLT was formed in 2014 as a pilot project by the NYC Community Land Initiative (NYCCLI) with organizing support from Picture the Homeless. It was established to address the housing crisis in East Harlem, which is marked by high rates of poverty, displacement, and speculative real estate development. The CLT gained significant momentum in 2020 when it acquired its first four buildings from the City of New York for $1 each. These buildings are being renovated under the leadership of two nonprofit developers, Banana Kelly and Community Assisted, Tenant Controlled Housing (CATCH.
Land Holdings/Residents:
EHEBCLT currently owns four buildings located at 53 East 110th Street, 201 East 120th Street, 204 West 121st Street, and 304 East 126th Street. These buildings are being renovated to provide 36 rental apartments and three commercial spaces. Ten percent of the apartments will be reserved for formerly homeless residents, and an unspecified number of units will be adapted for mobility and vision-impaired individuals.
Eligibility Requirements for Residents: Sixteen homes will be deeply affordable to families earning 35% Area Median Income (about $38,000 for a family of three) and 4 will be reserved for people transitioning out of homelessness. The remaining vacant apartments will be affordable to residents at or below 100% AMI.
Governance Structure: interim board until CLT is fully operational
Additional Details: EHEBCLT accepts HPD funds and thus in required to follow HPD guidelines for affordable housing developments
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East New York Community Land Trust
2966 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
646-335-5973
staff@eastnewyorkclt.org
eastnewyorkclt.org
Purpose: The ENYCLT aims to protect, stabilize, and expand affordable housing, support locally-owned small businesses, and preserve green spaces in East New York and Brownsville. They focus on ensuring that the land remains under community control to meet the needs of low- to moderate-income Black and Brown residents.
Background: ENYCLT was formed by community leaders and activists in 2020 to combat the predatory real estate investments in East New York and Brownsville. They are dedicated to maintaining community control over land to ensure it remains affordable and benefits the local population.
Land Holdings/Residents: In February 2024, ENYCLT purchased a 20 unit residential building in close partnership with the existing tenants in the building. These tenants will gain housing stability, control over the management of the building and will transition to owning their individual apartments. The CLT will continue to own the land under the building, ensuring long term affordability for generations of residents.
Eligibility Requirements for Residents: n/a
Governance Structure: tripartite board of directors elected by voting membership. ENYCLT holds monthly membership meetings at which all members deliberate and vote upon ENYCLT priorities and decisions.
Additional Details: ENYCLT's work involves community education, developing leadership, and organizing around issues that affect their neighborhood. Their approach is rooted in intergenerational organizing, ensuring that both young people and seniors have a voice in the community's future.ENYCLT has been heavily involved in the advocacy efforts of the New York City Community Land Initiative (NYCCLI), a coalition of New York City CLTs and housing justice organizations. NYCCLI is advocating for the passage of the Community Land Act, a set of bills including:
- Public Land for Public Good–(Intro 0637) – requiring NYC to prioritize not-for-profit developers and CLTs when the city disposes of land for affordable housing or any other public use or purpose.
- Community Opportunity to Purchase Act–“Community Opportunity to Purchase Act” (Intro 0196) – giving CLTs and other qualified nonprofits a first right to purchase 3+ unit buildings when landlords sell, and a right to match any competing offers.
- TOPA resolution–(Res. 0038-2022) – calling on NYS to pass the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, to give tenants a first right to collectively buy their buildings when landlords sell, and a right to match competing offers.
- Abolish the NYC Tax Lien Sale–prohibiting NYC from resuming the tax lien sale, and calling for a replacement system that engages CLTs to preserve affordable housing.
Increase the number of affordable homes, small, local businesses, and green spaces in East New York and Brownsville.
Land Holdings: East New York CLT plans to obtain vacant lots which will be developed for community use in the future.
Media
Fruit Belt Community Land Trust
191 North Street, Suite 1
Buffalo, NY 14201
info@fbcommunitylandtrust.org
fruitbelt-clt.org
Date Incorporated: 2017
Purpose: Affordable housing, community development.
Land Holdings: 5 properties under development.
Government Notes: Bylaws
Funders: Open Buffalo; PUSH Buffalo; the City of Buffalo; New York State's Community Land Trusts Capacity Building Initiative (a program created by the Office of the New York Attorney General and Enterprise Community Partners).
Hempstead Community Land Trust
50 Clinton St, Suite 504
Hempstead, NY 11550
516-224-7701
Sylvia@HempsteadCLT.org
hempsteadclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2019
Purpose: Affordable housing.
Land Holdings: Plan to acquire land and houses within the village of Hempstead, NY.
Partners
Interboro Community Land Trust
55 Broad St., 10th Floor
New York, NY 10004
info@interboroclt.org
interboroclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2018
Purpose: Balancing permanent affordability, equity building, and neighborhood stability, Interboro supports New Yorkers and strengthens communities through the development and stewardship of permanently-affordable homes for ownership by low- and moderate-income households across the five boroughs of New York City.
Land Holdings: There are currently two single-family homes in Brooklyn on the CLT and 500-plus homeownership units (single-family homes and limited-equity co-op units) in Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx in the CLT’s pipeline.
Media Coverage: Scaling Up (Shelterforce), Interboro CLT (Shelterforce), Helping At-Risk Homeowners (Shelterforce), Press Release March 2022, Press Release September 2021
Funders: Citi Community Development, Enterprise Community Partners, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Office of the New York State Attorney General, Grounded Solutions Network, Ford Foundation
Long Island Partnership Housing Development Fund Community Land Trust
180 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788
631-435-4710
info@lihp.org
lihp.org/clt.html
Purpose: Create single family, affordable workforce housing units which are to be sold at 80% or less of the median income in the area.
Land Holdings: Long Island Partnership CLT Housing Development Fund Co. Inc. (LIPCLTHDFC) worked collaboratively with Nassau and Suffolk Counties to acquire properties damaged by Superstorm Sandy and create 23 resilient homes. The properties had originally been acquired by New York State and were transferred to the CLT to further a regional resiliency strategy. As of December 2019, six additional properties are in the process of being acquired.
Funders: New York State's Community Land Trusts Capacity Building Initiative (a program created by the Office of the New York Attorney General and Enterprise Community Partners).
Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Trust
c/o Bronx Unite
Bronx, NY
info@southbronxunite.org
southbronxunite.org/community-land-trust
Purpose: Secure and steward public land that reflect the priorities of area residents, including community and cultural spaces, open green spaces, and deeply affordable housing. They also collaborate with other community land trusts in NYC (through the NYC Community Land Initiative) to advocate for public policies that prioritize community land trusts.
Land Holdings: They are currently in the organizing phase to obtain a city-owned building for a community center and state-owned land for an open green space on the waterfront that would also serve as a flood mitigation measure.
New York City Community Land Initiative
New York City, NY
elise@neweconomynyc.org
https://nyccli.org
Purpose: Support community land trusts in New York City working to prevent homelessness and displacement.
Northeast Farmers of Color
Petersburg, NY
connect@nefoclandtrust.org
https://nefoclandtrust.org/
Purpose: Acquire land or easements for the purpose of conservation and permanent affordability/access for POC farmers.
Northern Manhattan Community Land Trust
Manhattan, NYC, NY
nmcltrust@gmail.com
facebook.com/NMCLT/
Date Incorporated: Undergoing incorporation as a 501c3 federal income tax exempt public charity as of 2022.
Purpose: Create sustainable, affordable, and community-controlled housing while allowing residents to become financially stable. Northern Manhattan CLT also aims to "improve the collective life of the community by fostering the holistic cultural and economic development of people and organizations, and of the environment" as well as "anchor working class people, immigrants, and people of color against displacement."
Land Holdings: Still in organizing phases as of 2022.
REal Edgemere CLT
Beach Channel Dr, Queens, NY, USA
(646) 397-7537
info@realedgemereclt.org
https://www.realedgemereclt.org/
Purpose: To use grassroots methods to plan and develop housing, open spaces, and amenities to cultivate economic, ecological, and cultural vibrancy and resiliency in Edgemere.
Background: The ReAL Edgemere CLT was established by local leaders to address the long-term recovery and resilience of Edgemere after Hurricane Sandy. In 2022, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) selected ReAL Edgemere CLT to redevelop 119 vacant lots, furthering the goals of the 2017 Resilient Edgemere Community Plan.
Land holdings/Residents: The CLT currently holds 119 vacant lots, which are slated for the development of elevated affordable homes, a commercial space, and community open spaces.
Eligibility requirements for residents: income-qualifications; specific eligibility criteria would be determined as part of the development process and in consultation with the community.
Governance structure: tripartite board of directors representing residents, community members, and advisors.
Southern Door Community Land Trust
133 Main St, Binghamton, NY 13905
607-269-7709
cltsoutherndoor@gmail.com
southerndoorclt.com/
Purpose: The Southern Door Community Land Trust is a grassroots, BIPOC-led organization committed to achieving racial, housing, and energy justice. Their mission is to create and sustain permanently affordable housing, primarily through the development of community land trusts, to ensure stable homes for vulnerable populations in Broome County, New York.
Background: SDCLT was founded in 2019, emerging from a coalition of local housing advocates and social justice groups in response to a grant opportunity from the New York Attorney General. Since its inception, SDCLT has focused on anti-displacement initiatives and developing community-controlled housing.
Land holdings/Residents: The Trust’s first property is a six-unit apartment building in Binghamton, acquired in collaboration with Broome County in 2022. This property is intended to provide permanently affordable housing, with plans to keep residents housed during any necessary rehabilitation or remodeling.
Eligibility requirements for residents: n/a
Governance structure: governed by a tripartite board that includes CLT residents, community members, and public representatives.
Trillium Community Land Trust
hello@trilliumclt.org
www.trilliumclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2022
Purpose: To provide permanently affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households in a manner that utilizes climate-friendly design and fosters community stewardship of land.
Land Holdings: In organizing phases
Governance Notes: Tripartite governing structure
Uniondale Community Land Trust
589 Newton Ave.
Uniondale, NY 11553
516-565-4096
info@u-clt.org
u-clt.org
Purpose: U-CLT aims to retain and expand affordable housing in Uniondale, a community disproportionately impacted by subprime loans, foreclosures, and speculative investment. The CLT preserves affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income residents.
Background: Uniondale received a disproportionate number of subprime loans during the housing boom. More than half of the loans originated between 2005 and 2006 were high-rate, and the community has faced high levels of foreclosures, vacancies, and post-crash speculative investment. The Uniondale Community Land Trust was founded in 2014 to counter this, under the fiscal sponsorship of Uniondale Community Council. U-CLT collaborates with local non-profits like Habitat for Humanity, Leviticus Fund, and Harvard Design School.
Land holdings/Residents: U-CLT focuses on single-family homes within Uniondale, with several homes on Macon Pl. and Uniondale Ave.
Eligibility requirements for residents: U-CLT houses are affordable at 50-80% of Nassau County’s AMI.
Governance structure: open membership; tripartite board of directors
Additional details: U-CLT also provides educational homeownership workshops and community events to support residents.
Western Queens Community Land Trust
Queens, NY
718-476-8449
westernqueensclt@gmail.com
wqclt.org
Purpose: The WQCLT aims to promote community land ownership in Western Queens, focusing on economic, racial, and environmental justice. The organization seeks to counter the privatization of land development by creating spaces that remain affordable and accessible to the local community.
Background: Founded in 2019, the WQCLT emerged from the community's response to Amazon's planned HQ2, which was abandoned following local opposition. The group is working to prevent gentrification and displacement in the area by gaining control over key properties, starting with a significant Department of Education building on the waterfront.
Land holdings/Residents: The WQCLT is currently focused on acquiring its first major property, the 600,000-square-foot Department of Education building, which is intended to become a community hub and provide affordable spaces for local artists, musicians, retailers and entrepreneurs. This building is a few blocks from Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing project in the U.S.
Eligibility requirements for residents: Currently, the WQCLT is not managing residential properties. Their first project involves non-residential community space. Future projects may include affordable housing, and eligibility would likely prioritize low-income residents and those who meet specific criteria set by the CLT.
Governance structure: The WQCLT is governed by an interim board that will transition to a permanent, elected board once the CLT acquires its first property or after two years. The governance model is designed to ensure that the community has a strong voice, with specific provisions for low-income representation.
