Printable Information Sheet

Topeka Community Land Trust

Creating Affordable Housing for Our Community

Benefits of Land Trust Homeownership

Same Quality at Lower Cost

Builds Equity

Community Investment

What's a Community Land Trust?

A nonprofit that separates land from home ownership — the Land Trust owns the land, while families own their homes
Homeowners lease the land through a 99-year ground lease
Removes land cost from the purchase price, making homes significantly more affordable
Creates homeownership opportunities for families who would otherwise be priced out of the market

The Missing Middle Housing Crisis

Current Challenges

Investors buying homes for "flips," driving up prices
Homes converting to rentals, reducing ownership opportunities
Rising costs pricing out middle-income families
No programs for the "missing middle" housing market
Neighborhood stability threatened

Who We'll Serve

Working families (40-120% AMI) who earn too much for housing assistance but can't afford market prices
Community members seeking stability and equity-building through homeownership
Families wanting to put down roots and provide stable education for their children
Neighbors committed to revitalizing and strengthening Topeka's communities

A Vision for Housing Justice

Problems with Current City Plans

Emphasizes new development over preserving existing communities
Proposes zoning changes and high-density apartments that will destabilize neighborhoods (See 2020 Housing Study)
Limited protections against displacement of current residents

Addressed Sustainably by the Land Trust

Preserves existing housing while maintaining neighborhood character and increasing affordability
Creates permanent community assets and builds intergenerational wealth
Focuses on housing stability and community-driven solutions

Partnering with the Topeka Land Bank

Topeka Land Bank

City program that acquires abandoned and tax-foreclosed properties
Focuses on property redistribution without long-term affordability guarantees

Community Land Trust

Independent nonprofit creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities
Builds community wealth and stability over generations

Our Partnership Strategy

Land Bank transfers vacant properties to our Trust, which we renovate for affordable homeownership, creating a pipeline that transforms abandoned properties into permanent community assets

Get Involved

We Need Your Voice

We welcome input from residents seeking affordable homeownership, neighbors concerned about vacant properties, and organizations working in community development.

Email: john@topekaclt.org

Website: www.topekaclt.org