1.
Create a path for tenant and community ownership by passing a Tenant/Community Opportunity to Purchase Act.

A Tenant/Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA/COPA) allows tenants to compete with the private sector buyers to purchase their homes and preserve affordability. The goal is to intercept speculative real estate transactions and put rental housing into shared tenant ownership or non-profit stewardship, with a deed restriction for permanent affordability, to prevent the displacement of current and future residents.

2.
Create opportunities for BIPOC communities to secure land and buildings by robustly funding acquisition and preservation funds, and resourcing community-led acquisition strategies.

We need rapid public intervention to buy properties, land, housing, and facilities that anchor BIPOC communities before these properties are bought by speculators. The money spent on these properties means that much less needs to be spent in the future as they will be permanently off the market and stewarded by community for community needs. Every missed opportunity to purchase land now means potentially millions dollars more in purchase price in the future.  The following are examples of acquisition funds and infrastructure that would immediately increase our capacity to do CSL work: 

King County EDI

A King County Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) would invest in community-led land development and stewardship projects at all stages of the development process, from pre-development capacity building through construction. Modeled off the Seattle Equitable Development Initiative, a diverse advisory board made up of community members (with at least 80% of the board from communities of color, low-income, immigrant and refugee, LGBTQ2s+, trans and gender diverse communities) makes key decisions related to who gets funded and why.

Regional Community Land Bank

A land bank is a non-profit or governmental agency that acquires property to preserve it for community.  Traditionally, land banks have been used in low-cost real estate markets to focus on acquisition of  vacant, abandoned, and tax delinquent properties, but in King County, we need this entity to be focused on purchasing privately owned, multifamily properties that house low-income households (below 80% AMI),  BIPOC occupied commercial and cultural space, and properties that fall into foreclosure. Land banks can also preserve surplus city or county-owned land to hold for community purpose in the future. 

Seed money for Community-Based Financing, such as Community Investment Trusts

Resourcing alternative financing that is community-driven and community-funded is a key step in enabling community stewardship of land. Across King County, we have the economic resources to support rapid and flexible acquisition of land, but we need the community-driven financial institutions to be able to do so. Local governments should provide seed money for community-based financing. One example is a community investment trust, in which members invest in community-run real acquisition fund, with a fixed return on the investment. Community Investment Trusts can be a wealth-building tool as well as encourage investment in our local economy.

3.
Fund the capacity building needed to make Community Stewardship of Land Possible.

Key principles of community stewardship of land include democratic decision-making and community power. The work of collective stewardship requires ongoing skill-development, reflection and experimentation. The immediate allocation of seed money and unrestricted general funding to BIPOC-led organizations to educate tenants, organize neighborhoods and prepare to develop and steward land, will ensure the success of Community Stewardship of Land. Long-term disinvestment in low-income BIPOC communities has left our communities with far less infrastructure, wealth, and credit to be able to tangibly benefit from these policies without intentional investment. Without capacity building money that prioritizes BIPOC-led organizations, CSL will either be unsuccessful altogether or replicate the power imbalances created by systemic racism.

4.
Increase BIPOC power in planning and development by establishing local planning and accountability through equitable development zones.

Key principles of community stewardship of land include democratic decision-making and community power. The work of collective stewardship requires ongoing skill-development, reflection and experimentation. The immediate allocation of seed money and unrestricted general funding to BIPOC-led organizations to educate tenants, organize neighborhoods and prepare to develop and steward land, will ensure the success of community stewardship of land. Long-term disinvestment in low-income BIPOC communities has left our communities with far less infrastructure, wealth, and credit to be able to tangibly benefit from these policies without intentional investment. Without capacity building money that prioritizes BIPOC-led organizations, CSL will either be unsuccessful altogether or replicate the power imbalances created by systemic racism.

5.
Ensure that any public land transfer occurs within a community stewardship of land framework or has significant community benefits.

Every year, hundreds of acres of land is sold by our local governments, often to private developers. Government-owned land should benefit the people, as a resource that should be designated for community stewardship of land, not to benefit private real estate. Local governments should pass legislation that ensures any surplus land is transferred to organizations or groups who operate under a community stewardship of land framework or has minimum outcomes for housing and community benefits if transferred to a private entity. 

6.
Discourage property flipping for profit through a tax on certain real estate transactions.

Home flipping is the process of a real estate entity purchasing a home or building and quickly reselling to make a profit, rather than to live in it or provide housing to those who need it. Flipping can result in displacement of long-term residents, permanent loss of affordable homes, and dramatically increased property values in a neighborhood. Unless we can curb this practice from happening, there will not be land outside of private ownership for community stewardship. A flipping tax imposes an additional sales tax on homes sold within a short time frame from the last purchase, deterring this predatory activity and making it more possible for land to be acquired and stewarded by community.

To learn more about some of these policies, please see the Community Policy Brief on Disaster Gentrification researched, written and released by Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Multicultural Community Coalition and Puget Sound Sage here.