Ted Anderson, KC Land Bank Exec Director, discusses local land status and opportunities

Ted Anderson, Kansas City Land Bank Executive Director, discusses local land status and opportunities.

Host and producer, Donna Morrow Wolfe     Co-host, co-producer:  Joseph Jackson

History of the Land Bank of Kansas City, Missouri

Over the past several years, as the housing market declined and the number of foreclosures increased, cities and counties throughout the nation began establishing land banks. Faced with a growing number of vacant and abandoned properties, local governments sought new ways to return those properties to productive use. In Kansas City, the pursuit of a land bank began in 2010.

Although legislation pertaining to the establishment of a land bank was voted down twice by the Missouri General Assembly (2010 and 2011), stakeholders were not deterred. With assistance from the Center for Community Progress*, new legislation was drafted and then adopted in 2012. Shortly thereafter, the Land Bank of Kansas City, Missouri was established.

Using the successful models of land banks in Genesee County, Michigan and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the commissioners and staff of the Land Bank of Kansas City, Missouri have implemented a system that returns vacant properties to productive use, places them back on the tax rolls, and contributes to the improvement of the community.

* A national organization dedicated to helping cities, towns, states and regions across the United States reintegrate vacant, abandoned and blighted properties into the economic and civic life of their communities.

The Land Bank takes title to those properties in Kansas City which do not sell at the Jackson County Delinquent Land Tax Sale. The Land Bank holds and maintains the properties and markets and sells them for eventual responsible new ownership and redevelopment. As of July 2014, the Land Bank owns 2,947 vacant lots in Kansas City and around 1,200 lots with structures in various stages of repair

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