Community Land Trust expansion and two pilot sites

The problem

When land values climb, ownership climbs out of reach — even for families who have lived in a neighborhood for generations. Rising prices don't have to mean the neighborhood stops being theirs.

The plan

The city will expand the community land trust model, where the trust holds land permanently and residents own or rent homes at prices tied to local incomes. Two pilot sites will be selected where due diligence supports them, with deal standards published before any transaction.

Partner agreements with the land trust operator are a precondition, and baseline data will be published so residents can see exactly who the pilots serve.

How you’ll know it’s working

• Two pilot sites selected with published due-diligence results
• Partner agreement signed with the land trust operator
• Residents housed at prices tied to local incomes
• Permanence of affordability covenants
• Resident trust and satisfaction scores

From the Blueprint

• Program owner: Housing & Community Development Director; delivery owner: Community Land Trust Executive Director.
• Partners include the Tampa Housing Authority and mission-aligned nonprofit builders.
• Parcel inventory ties directly to city GIS with ground-lease and resale templates from the City Attorney.
• Workflow: identify candidate parcels, run due diligence, transfer or lease into the trust, issue RFP, finance, build.
• Timeline: parcel inventory and two pilot sites in days 0–90; RFPs and awards in months 3–9; first occupancy in months 9–18.
• Accountability: trust-controlled acres, units entitled, permitted, started, and delivered, plus 30-year AMI affordability.

Community Land Trust removes land cost from the purchase price permanently.