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- What is the Co-op? The Community Land Co-op is an alternative, grassroots approach to ownership of land and housing. It is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation with an open membership and a democratically elected board.
- What does the Co-op do? The Community Land Co-op acquires land and housing through gift or purchase. The land is held by the Co-op forever, giving the community long-term control over the land's future use and development. The houses are repaired or rehabilitated and then leased or sold to low- and moderate-income families from the neighborhood.
- Who are the Co-op members? The Co-op members are residents of the West End and other neighborhoods who support this alternative approach and who desire to build a strong community. Members pay an annual membership fee and attend regular membership meetings.
- Who runs the Co-op? The Co-op is run by a board of local residents, Co-op residents, and community members at large. The board is responsible for supervising staff, acquiring property, leasing homes, fundraising, and long-range planning. The Co-op day-to-day tasks are carried out by a full-time director, a part-time employee, an Americorps member, volunteers, contractors, and working committees of the board.
- Where does the Co-op get its money? Funds to purchase and improve land and housing are loaned to the Co-op at low interest rates by religious institutions, banks, and supportive individuals. Grants for staff salaries and the day-to-day expenses of running the Co-op come from religious institutions, individuals, private foundations, and local fundraising. The Co-op receives no city, state, or federal funds. For Co-op homeowners, the real estate taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and mortgage payments are paid by the families who occupy those buildings. These mortgages are kept small, because loans to purchase and improve property are obtained by the Co-op at low rates of interest.
- What effect will the Co-op have on the West End? In the short run, The Co-op will make home-ownership possible for an increasing number of low- and moderate-income families. In the long run, the Co-op hopes to prevent displacement, provide an alternative to renting, and enable long-time residents to participate actively in planning and guiding our community's future development.
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