An out-of-state consultant working with a new Evanston community land trust said the organization will need more support from the city and the community after a lukewarm response from the Evanston Housing Commission last week.
But enough interest exists in the Citizens Lighthouse Community Land Trust to keep developing the organization, said Michael Brown, a partner with the consulting firm Burlington Associates, which specializes in aiding community organizations. He highlighted that the land trust is being helped by the Evanston Community Foundation’s Leadership Evanston program in garnering more community support.
“Prior to my visit, I hadn’t seen a strong show of support from two important sectors — from local nonprofit organizations and from the city,” Brown said. “We are still trying to gauge the level of support, but right now there is enough support to move forward.”
Brown gave a presentation before the Housing Commission on Feb. 19 that focused on the benefits of establishing a community land trust in Evanston. The group would pool public and private dollars into a community fund to lower the cost of housing in Evanston by buying land and leasing it to homeowners. The fund would make it easier for low-income families to live in Evanston because it would reduce the cost of the home by 40 percent and ensure available affordable housing in the future by keeping land in the control of the community, Brown said.
“It’s being able to live in Evanston with the quality of life and all the benefits of ownership, as opposed to not living in this community,” Brown told the commission. “You’re putting the community in control of publicly invested properties and isolating them from the market.”
But Housing Commission members were concerned that widespread community subsidies could bring down land values for residents who own their land. They also questioned whether a person living on leased land would commit fully to the community.
“It’s a good idea, but my concern is the lease,” said Sara Ashmore Diggs, a commission member. “I don’t know how invested someone is in their home when they know that it can never be (theirs).”
Robin Snyderman Pratt, the Housing Commission chairwoman, said the commission has “supported from the beginning” the land trust organization.
Brown said it is important for the group to seek support from not only the city but also the community.
Five participants from the Leadership Evanston program, a class for Evanston residents to develop their community leadership skills, are heeding that message. After interviewing several housing organizations, they elected to help the Citizens Lighthouse Community Land Trust within the last month to garner larger community support.
“We decided to put our efforts in with a group that still needs some assistance,” said Kristen Rowe, a program participant. “You want to maintain a diverse community socio-economically and have a place where your property can rise in value, but if you raise it too high, then only a few people can afford to live here.”
Rowe said more dialogue between her group and land trust organization would be necessary before setting a plan of action.
