Dear stakeholders,
First, I want to thank you all for the warm welcome I have received since becoming director of the State Land Bank Authority (SLBA). The team has had another productive and successful year, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.
With the $150 million appropriation for blight elimination from Governor Whitmer and the legislature, the SLBA has dedicated a significant amount of time supporting that work and appropriately allocating those funds. In particular, rounds three and four of our blight elimination program were the focus in the second half of the year.
I'm also proud to say that we have added four new local land bank partners to the Michigan land banking community in 2023. Alpena, Barry, Gratiot and Mason counties bring the state total to 51. We've continued to advocate for the growth of our work. Public Act 52 of 2023, signed by Governor Whitmer, creates opportunities to expand local partnerships by allowing municipalities with a population over 50,000 in counties without established land banks to create their own. We expect at least two more land banks to join our ranks in early 2024.
We were proud to partner on several collaborative development projects in 2023:
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The Vista Green, developed by Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity and Jubilee Ministries, is a residential development in the City of Holland for families making between 30%-120% area median income for the construction of 24 townhomes and 18 single family homes.
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White Creek Flats, developed by White Creek Flats Land LLC, is a multi-family residential housing development in the City of Cedar Springs providing housing at rental rates for families making less than 120% area median income for the construction of 168 units.
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2080 Union, developed by Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids Nonprofit Housing Corporation, is a residential development in the City of Grand Rapids for families making between 60%-150% area median income for the construction of 42 single family homes.
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The Reserve at Crystal Lake, working with the Oakland County Brownfield Authority and Robertson Homes, is a market rate residential subdivision from abandoned gravel pit utilizing brownfield tax increment financing. More than 100 single-family homes will be built.
We look forward to building on this year’s successes in 2024. Next year, we'll be celebrating 20 years of land banking in Michigan, continuing to foster the development of property and promoting and supporting land bank operations at the county and local levels. Thank you for your continued partnership and support in our important work.
Sincerely,
Joseph Rivet
Director, State Land Bank Authority
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