Variations on the "Classic" Community Land Trust Model

Organizers of a CLT often amend key features of the "classic" model to fit their own circumstances, preferences, and needs. The most common variations tend to occur in the CLT's Corporate Structure, Governance Structure, Roles, and Activities.

Corporate Structure

1. CLT created “from scratch” as an independent, nonprofit
corporation

2. CLT created by converting an existing nonprofit into a
Community Land Trust

3. CLT grafted onto an existing nonprofit and operated as one
program among many

4. CLT spun-off as a separate nonprofit after several years as an
internal program

5. CLT created as a subsidiary of an existing nonprofit
corporation

Governance Structure

Board Composition
1. 1/3 leaseholders; 1/3 residents from surrounding community; 1/3
public interest reps

2. Subdivide leaseholder category among homeowners, co-ops,
tenants, commercial leaseholders

3. Include among resident category anyone living or working within
the service area

4. Include in public interest category governmental agencies,
churches, foundations, banks, social service agencies, tenants
rights organizations, or community development corporations

Board Selection
1. Two-thirds of the board are nominated by, elected by, and
composed of residents; the remaining third is nominated and
selected by other members of the board

2. Percentage of board elected by residents can vary

3. Process of nomination can vary

4. Process of election can vary

CLT Roles

1. Most CLTs do their own development, marketing, homebuyer
education, and monitoring of resales, using their own staff

2. Some CLTs do no development themselves, contracting with other
nonprofit organizations to develop housing on lands that are
owned by the CLT.

3. Some CLTs focus only on acquisition of land and stewardship of
affordability, contracting with others for all other activities
and services.

4. Some CLTs are heavily focused on development, contracting with
others for homebuyer education services.

5. Some CLTs that do rental housing in addition to homeowner
housing contract with others for property management services.

CLT Activities

1. CLTs provide sites for a variety of land uses, a range of income
groups, and a diversity of building tenures and types

2. Some CLTs only do single-family, owner-occupied housing

3. Some CLTs only do residential projects, but develop a variety of
housing types and tenures

4. Some CLTs do only “affordable” housing; others do mixed-income
housing

5. Some CLTs mix residential and commercial uses

6. Some CLTs mix housing and conservation