GFCLT HIGHLIGHTS
Grand Forks Community Land Trust was incorporated in December 2010 as the first community land trust in the State of North Dakota, joining over 250 CLTs nationwide across 45 states. The organization was formed by Grand Forks Housing Authority staff seeking a more effective way for Grand Forks to provide perpetually affordable homeownership opportunities.
GFCLT Board of Directors formed in December 2010. Today GFCLT’s Board includes:
GFCLT Board of Directors formed in December 2010. Today GFCLT’s Board includes:
|
Darryl Jorgenson, President
Matthew Leiphon, Vice President Mark Rustad, Treasurer Kate Preszler, Secretary |
Eric Castle
Adam Jordan Zachary Tomczik |
EARLY WORK
Bylaws for the organization were drafted and approved in December 2010. GFCLT received 501(c)3 charitable status from the Internal Revenue Service in June 2011.
Multiple focus groups and surveys were conducted in early 2011, reaching over 200 people. Information collected was utilized in the creation of the GFCLT Ground Lease, developed and approved in summer 2011. GFCLT opened its waiting list in mid-2011 and to date over 60 families have applied for a GFCLT home.
Multiple focus groups and surveys were conducted in early 2011, reaching over 200 people. Information collected was utilized in the creation of the GFCLT Ground Lease, developed and approved in summer 2011. GFCLT opened its waiting list in mid-2011 and to date over 60 families have applied for a GFCLT home.
PARTNERSHIPS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Prior to breaking ground on its first home, GFCLT worked closely with Grand Forks’ Historic Preservation Commission to ensure the historic integrity of developed properties in the Historic Near South Side Neighborhood.
On January 4, 2012, Grand Forks Community Land Trust and former intern, Katie Jo Flint, along with the UND Nonprofit Leadership Program, received national recognition as the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s Internship of the Year.
In an effort to properly catalogue the history of the Near South Neighborhood, GFCLT partnered with UND Department of History to provide architectural renderings of properties demolished after the flood and informational booklets documenting the history of the neighborhood.
On November 13 & 14, 2013, GFCLT hosted the first statewide CLT Training. Wright and Flint coordinated a dozen speakers including nationally recognized CLT experts, State legislative representatives and local affordable housing experts. Over 50 attendees participated in the two day training that included an Affordable Housing Symposium with statewide housing data and a panel of local housing experts for Q&A.
In 2014 GFCLT hosted a summer series of focus groups on affordable housing in the community, including rental housing and discussion with the Village Family Service Center’s Joshua Huffman and Morgan Almer on first time home buyer obstacles. GFCLT was able to collect substantial information on both rental and ownership problems in Grand Forks.
GFCLT Executive Director Emily Contreras works with communities all over North Dakota in exploring CLTs. Community land trusts have received broad support as a potential solution to the state’s affordable housing situation, including support of Senator Heidi Heitkamp. In June, 2016, GFCLT was awarded a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to continue these efforts and create the North Dakota Community Land Trust Partnership – a separate nonprofit entity to build capacity and be a resource for start-up CLTs.
On January 4, 2012, Grand Forks Community Land Trust and former intern, Katie Jo Flint, along with the UND Nonprofit Leadership Program, received national recognition as the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s Internship of the Year.
In an effort to properly catalogue the history of the Near South Neighborhood, GFCLT partnered with UND Department of History to provide architectural renderings of properties demolished after the flood and informational booklets documenting the history of the neighborhood.
On November 13 & 14, 2013, GFCLT hosted the first statewide CLT Training. Wright and Flint coordinated a dozen speakers including nationally recognized CLT experts, State legislative representatives and local affordable housing experts. Over 50 attendees participated in the two day training that included an Affordable Housing Symposium with statewide housing data and a panel of local housing experts for Q&A.
In 2014 GFCLT hosted a summer series of focus groups on affordable housing in the community, including rental housing and discussion with the Village Family Service Center’s Joshua Huffman and Morgan Almer on first time home buyer obstacles. GFCLT was able to collect substantial information on both rental and ownership problems in Grand Forks.
GFCLT Executive Director Emily Contreras works with communities all over North Dakota in exploring CLTs. Community land trusts have received broad support as a potential solution to the state’s affordable housing situation, including support of Senator Heidi Heitkamp. In June, 2016, GFCLT was awarded a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to continue these efforts and create the North Dakota Community Land Trust Partnership – a separate nonprofit entity to build capacity and be a resource for start-up CLTs.
CITY SUPPORT
In March, 2012 Grand Forks City Council approved the allocation of city-owned infill lots and $335,000 in HOME funding to Grand Forks Community Land Trust. HOME funds were utilized as subsidy to reduce buyer payments to their affordability. In total, the organization secured $490,000 in CDBG/HOME funds.
GFCLT'S PORTFOLIO
GFCLT’s lots from the City of Grand Forks are around and in the Historic Near South Side where all eight homes have been built thus far. With a few lots remaining from the City to be developed, GFCLT plans to acquire/rehab homes in the future as well as expand development throughout Grand Forks through partnerships with other nonprofits.
- While maintaining a historically accurate exterior, the interior of 222 Cottonwood incorporates Universal Design concepts, equally functional for those with and those without disabilities.
- GFCLT closed on its first home in April 2013.
- GFCLT’s second home was built with larger families in mind. The home includes 1,882 finished square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms.
- Behind the home a 16 x 20 foot driveway and 22 x 22 foot garage pad has been poured for later construction.
- GFCLT sold its second home in August 2013.
- GFCLT sold its third and fourth homes in October 2014. These both incorporate open floor plans in the main living space and kitchen, front porches, as well as unfinished basements giving the opportunity for home buyers to finish in the future.
- The single-story homes offer just over 1,000 square feet on the main floor that includes living, dining, kitchen, two bedrooms and one full bathroom. Second full bathrooms are finished in the basement, with potential space for a second family room and additional bedroom(s).
- GFCLT’s fifth and sixth home were sold in spring 2015, and the seventh and eighth homes in spring 2016. Three of the four were similar to what GFCLT had built in the past, while one was a two-story build for larger families. All four have concrete slabs to provide off-street parking.
- GFCLT's first twin home was completed in 2016. The twin home is two-stories - each unit has 2 bedrooms/1.5 bathrooms with separate entrances and a detached single-stall garage. Both bedrooms and the full bathroom are on the second level, while the main floors have open concept living/dining/kitchen, two closets, and a half bathroom. The unfinished basements include the utility room and washer/dryer hookups, along with an egress window for an optional third bedroom or additional family room.
PORTFOLIO - CURRENT & FUTURE PLANS
GFCLT is working on an opportunity to acquire and rehabilitate several homes with its partner agencies in Grand Forks, as well as having one remaining lot to build on in 2024.
