LCA Trust Neighborhood Revitalization Program
The program is designed to take properties in urban and suburban areas that have fallen into a state of blight and are bank-owned as a result of foreclosures and turn them into local natural micro-parks or, in partnership with residents or other local groups, turn them into community gardens.
About You
Section 1: You
First Name
Stephen
Last Name
Meltzer
Website URL
Organization
Land Conservation and Advocacy Trust, Inc.
Country
United States, MA
Section 2: Your Organization
Organization Name
Land Conservation and Advocacy Trust, Inc.
Organization Website
Organization Phone
508-872-3300
Organization Address
873 Concord Street, Framingham, MA 01701
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, MA
Your idea
Name Your Project
LCA Trust Neighborhood Revitalization Program
Country and state your work focuses on
United States, MA
Describe Your Idea
The program is designed to take properties in urban and suburban areas that have fallen into a state of blight and are bank-owned as a result of foreclosures and turn them into local natural micro-parks or, in partnership with residents or other local groups, turn them into community gardens.
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
The idea is unique because most neighborhood revitalization efforts are concentrating on rebuilding; that is, replacing a blighted building or house with a new or refurbished building or house with the same purpose. This idea is different and addresses the lack of open space and natural areas that are accessible to real people in urban and suburban areas. Among other benefits of natural areas, "people living near parks and other natural areas live healthier lives with fewer hospital visits." Ewing, R., J. Kostyack, D. Chen, B. Stein, and M. Ernst. Endangered by Sprawl: How Runaway Development Threatens America’s Wildlife. National Wildlife Federation, Smart Growth America, and NatureServe. Washington, D.C., January 2005. http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/pdfs/EndangeredbySprawl.pdf.
This program would re-purpose blighted properties and transform them into sustainable open space, micro-parks, and community gardens that would have a direct impact on their neighborhoods and the people living in them. It would create community and provide opportunities for interaction and to practice sustainable natural activities and would provide a respite from sprawl and over-crowding.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
We are in the implementation stages of this idea and have successfully recruited real estate brokers, construction (and de-construction contractors) and landscape contractors to assist with properties. We have begun the process of searching for eligible sites.
Problem
Banks are reluctant to donate properties and it is difficult to find properties in areas where there will be sufficient local participation.
Actions
We are working to contact banking representatives charged with managing Real Estate Owned (REO) departments and working with real estate brokers in order to identify sites with a high likelihood of success.
Results
We are hoping that over the 12 to 18 months we are able to re-purpose 4 to 6 properties into long-lasting and sustainable open space, micro-parkland or community gardens and to turn the ownership and operation of those properties over to local stewards.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
More money. More participation from local banks. More participation from neighborhood activists.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Lack of the items needed for success.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$1000 - 4000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for less than a year
In what country?
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Land Conservation and Advocacy Trust, Inc.
How long has this organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
It is critical to engage local businesses including local banks, landscape and construction contractors in order to obtain the properties and in order to re-purpose the properties and for creating sustainable and working models for maintenance and participation.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Find appropriate properties; find banks willing to negotiate for no or low purchase prices; engage neighborhood participants to be leaders.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
I was representing (as their attorney) a cash purchaser of a bank-owned property who intended to tear down the house on the property and he mentioned that the neighbors would be better off if he left it vacant. He was right.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
During my years as an attorney for real estate develoers and landowners, I learned some important lessons:
- Valuable open spaces are falling victim to sprawl and over-development at an alarming rate.
- Real estate development decisions are motivated by profit.
- Profit and land preservation ideals can rarely coexist.
- Money is the great equalizer.
I have continually been frustrated watching local land interests struggle to raise funds on short notice to protect important natural areas from development and decided I was uniquely qualified, and needed to do something about it. After considerable research, including a national survey of over 1,000 land trust organizations, I realized that there was an acute need for access to immediate funds for preservation on short notice.
On September 5, 2008, I formed the Land Conservation and Advocacy Trust to take up this challenge and to level the financial playing field when competing with developers for land parcels, and battling in court for entitlements.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
Orion Grassroots Network
 | 109 weeks agoStephen Meltzer updated this Competition Entry. |
| 109 weeks agoStephen Meltzer submitted this idea. |
