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Gov. Whitmer continues to emphasize Michigan’s need for more housing. The State Land Bank Authority (SLBA) is focused on being a valued partner with local land banks, communities, local organizations and other state agencies to support affordable housing opportunities. Currently, SLBA is working on an agreement to develop 250 housing units on a former prison site in West Michigan.
Additionally, Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, a local non-profit organization, placed a large property in our land bank to qualify for brownfield funding for a single-family housing development project which has the capability of adding 42 affordable housing units.
The development is a community land trust meaning the homes remain affordable. This project has already sold 10 homes with 32 more homes in the process of being built.
Visit Dwelling Place’s website for more information.
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Welcome Grand Rapids and Warren Land Bank Authorities! Both cities have created land banks in the last several months.These new land banks were created thanks to a change in the law in 2023 allowed cities and townships with a population of 50,000 or more to form a municipal land bank.
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 SLBA continues to work along with our partners in eliminating blight in Michigan through our $150 million Blight Elimination Program. Blight has serious impacts on health leading to higher rates of chronic illness, stunted brain and physical development in children. Vacant, blighted structures are shown to play a role in the transmission of diseases, unsafe congregates area leading to transmission of disease, and blight negatively affects the mental health of the population who live in close proximity. Living near substandard housing and/or foreclosed homes has been linked to lower literacy scope for pre-K children. (Coulton, Fischer, et al. 2016)
Blighted structures are the result of disinvestment in the community for many reasons, including absent property owners, loss of income to maintain the property, loss of business, clouded title on the property, limited local ability to circumvent the blight issue and more. The resulting blight negatively affects the neighborhood and its residents. Removing blight allows for opportunity and growth to occur and for communities to build prosperity.
On April 2, two house bills (4675 and 4679) go into effect and clarify SLBA’s prohibition on local governments charging taxes, assessments or user fees on land bank property. The bills also allow local governments provide free services for land bank properties. Through these bills, land banks can also enter into express contracts to receive services from local governments.
View house bill 4675 online.
View house bill 4679 online.
 SLBA acquired approximately nine acres of property in the Village of Elberta located in Benzie County, marking a significant milestone in a collaborative effort to enhance the community and preserve public spaces. The acquisition stems from a unique partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and the Village of Elberta that will extend the Betsie Valley Trail through the site, offering the trail’s first connection to Lake Michigan. Additionally, a portion of the property’s sale proceeds will be dedicated to an endowment for maintaining public spaces in the Village of Elberta.
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Joseph Rivet, Director of the Michigan State Land Bank Authority. “We are proud to work alongside the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and the Village of Elberta to create a transformative development that will benefit the Benzie community for generations to come. By revitalizing this property, we’re unlocking opportunities for growth, recreation and connection for the entire community.”
The SLBA will leverage its expertise and resources to redevelop this waterfront property on Lake Betsie. This initiative supports the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s mission to protect natural spaces, allowing them to acquire a larger tract of land in Elberta for conservation.
The SLBA will engage with the community, the Village of Elberta and the conservancy to shape a shared vision for the project. By applying economic development tools and engaging the development community, the SLBA aims to optimize the redevelopment’s value for both Elberta and the surrounding region.
Learn more about the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
Read the full press release.
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