CLTs Urban AgriculturE & exploring the benefits and challenges of city farming projects Jeffrey Yuen + Harry Smith + Heather Benham National CLT Network Conference April 2014
WHAT are Community land trusts? CLTs are nonprofit organizations governed by a 3-part board of CLT residents, community residents and public representatives that provide lasting community assets and permanently affordable access to land for families and communities. The critical difference... CLTs make the distinction between ownership + of land and ownership of improvements and provide a democratic governance process. Community Land Trust Inclusionary fees are used to acquire land and operate CLT. CLT can partner with developers to construct any form of housing, from single-family detached to coops and Improvements owned privately by families and businesses Improvements IMPROVEMENTS LANDLand Land owned by CLT to ensure permanent affordability
Benefits of the clt model 1 2 3 Community Control Board structure ensures that land-use decisions are community controlled and needs are community-defined Long -Term Stewardship CLTs provide long-term stewardship services to development projects by retaining ownership of land permanent affordability CLTs typically utilize ground leases with resale restrictions that permanently protect affordability and recycle subsidies
CLT Sectors of Work Housing (of all sorts) Community Facilities Commercial Real Estate Open Space & Conservation Urban & Rural Agriculture Anything Else You Can Think Of
CLT AGRICULTURAL HISTORY Agriculture has always been a core element in CLT history Garden Cities Gramdan Villages New Communities, Inc.
WHAT is urban agriculture community gardens edible landscapes institutional garden demonstration garden backyard garden windowbox hydoponics & aquaponics urban commercial farm csa farm beekeeping livestock & chickens
WHY agriculture MATTERS 1 Comprehensive Community Development Vision 2 Food as a Development & Organizing Catalyst
A Closer Look at food security Urban agriculture can address all four aspects of food security
Urban Ag Benefits to communities social impacts + health economic impacts impacts
urban ag Challenges Public policies Environmental safety Sustained farmer interest Access to land Insecure land tenure According to ACGA survey 99.9% of gardeners found land security to be an issue.
roots of land insecurity Insecurity occurs when: Market rate cost of land exceeds the income generated from ag activities. Which is nearly always the case. Many ag benefits are non-monetary. This is a free market economy welcome to the era after communism
ThE 3 Roles OF CLTS in urban ag Secure Land Programmatic Support Direct Production
role 1: Securing Land Fee Simple Ownership Ground Lease Deed Restriction Secure Land Easements
Fee Simple Ownership Durham CLT: Burch Avenue Community Garden DCLT acquired small lot Neighborhood association advocated for a community garden on the site Land leased at nominal rate to neighborhood association
Fee Simple Ownership Benefits Long-Term Security High Level of Control Challenges Potentially high cost of land Responsibilities and obligations Property taxation policies
ground lease Southside CLT: Urban Edge Farm 50-acre farm leased from the State of Rhode Island for $1/ year for 10 years Subleases to seven new farmers as part of farm incubation program, with 5-year subleases at a nominal fee
Ground lease Benefits Low cost High level of control Challenges Legal complexity Transaction costs Performance standards
Deed Restriction Madison Area CLT: Troy Gardens 31 acre mixed use housing, agriculture, open space project Deed restrictions placed on portion of site limiting agricultural use
deed restriction Benefits Low cost Challenges Enforceability Risk of noncompliance highest at the point of transfer of title
conservation easements Church Community Housing Corporation: Sandywood Farms 26-acre comprehensive community development project Rental and mixedincome homeownership, preserved farmland, community garden, art galleries & more. More commonly used in rural setting to conserve natural areas
Conservation easements Benefits Limits use to ag Challenges No security of tenure for the grower Transaction Costs
role 2: programmatic support Agricultural programming Technical assistance & education Compost, tools, seedlings, etc. Programmatic Support
programmatic support Lopez CLT: SARD Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Initiative Mobile meat processing unit Seed library
role 3: direct production CLT itself is engaged in agricultural production Direct Production
direct production Southside CLT: City Farm Operates a 3/4 acre farm in Providence, RI Staff and volunteers grow produce and sell to local restaurants Provides agricultural training to students
direct production Backyard Gardening = Urban Agriculture By securing access to affordable land, CLTs can enable agricultural production for CLT residents Almost all CLTs are food producers!
Urban Ag Benefits to communities + social impacts health impacts economic impacts
Urban Ag Benefits to clts Support clt housing Comprehensive development diversify portfolio Building relations identity & goodwill It's Fun
Dudley neighbors incorporated roxbury/dorchester, ma
1984 Dudley Over 1,300 vacant lots plus abandoned commercial sites
30 Years Later Disposition of all City-owned land in Dudley Triangle is complete. DNI owns 32+ acres of 62 acres in Dudley Triangle.
WHAT'S ON DUDLEY NEIGHBORS LAND in 2014 95 77 53 1 1 1 1 1 1 Permanently Affordable Homeownership Units Cooperative Units Rental Units Playground Mini-orchard & Garden Community Farm Community Greenhouse Community Non-profit Office Space Commercial space Winthrop Estates Julian Judson Playground
10,000 Square Feet Community Growing Local Commercial Food Production DUDLEY COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE
DUDLEY COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE
DUDLEY COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE
WEST COTTAGE STREET COMMUNITY FARM
WEST COTTAGE STREET COMMUNITY FARM
dudley backyard gardening
Athens land trust Athens, GEORGIA
WHY AGRICULTURE? The mission of the Athens Land Trust is to promote quality of life through the integration of community and natural environment by preserving land, creating energy-efficient & affordable housing, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
WHAT's The CLT BRING? Guess who has experience working with and understanding of: Local neighborhoods Zoning & local government Low income households
How did we do it? USDA National Institute for Food & Agriculture ALT received a 3 year grant in 2010 from the USDA to establish a community garden network in Athens. ALT was one of 30 organizations throughout the country to receive funding - out of 184 applicants! Additional Funding & Support NRCS funding for underserved farmer outreach USDA funding for a farmers market in a low-income neighborhood EPA funding for environmental education activities composting & organic gardening practices Farm to School funding received to get local produce into the public school system, provide field trips for the students to our farms, and do taste testing events in the cafeterias. Young Urban Farming Program with support of the school district
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Underutilized Parcel Community Connection West broad School
West broad School
West broad School
West broad School
West broad MARket garden
West broad MARket garden
young urban farmers program
Williams farm
Williams farm
model project
BENEFITS for Athens land trust Agricultural projects have helped us Attract & Utilize Volunteers Connect to Wider Communities Produce New & Exciting Work
What's next Meeting our intention We re actually getting to the place where the programs are blending. We re creating real economic opportunities for families and individuals based on sustainable land use.
WHat opportunities do you see for urban agriculture?