Enabling the Creation of Community Land Banks
Regional Strategy to Unlock Underutilized Land for Housing Solution
NPHS is excited to announce the launch of a pioneering regional strategy to address the Inland Empire’s growing housing needs through the repurposing of underutilized land. In partnership with the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Community Solutions (UCR CCS), NPHS is leading a new exploratory mapping and feasibility study focused on vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, and foreclosed-upon (VADF) properties across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
This initiative aims to lay the groundwork for innovative, data-informed housing policy solutions that reimagine how overlooked land assets can be transformed into platforms for affordability, health, and neighborhood revitalization. Central to this effort is the exploration of a Community Land Bank model—a public tool designed to preserve and repurpose distressed land for affordable housing and long-term community benefit.
A Community Land Bank is a public or quasi-public entity enabled through state legislation that acquires, manages, and redevelops underutilized properties to serve the public interest. With unique legal authorities—including the ability to clear titles, extinguish back taxes, and prioritize community-serving transfers—land banks offer a powerful mechanism to overcome the bureaucratic and legal barriers that often stall redevelopment.
Our Solution – Proof of Concept
NPHS is actively working with policy partners to advance enabling legislation in California that would grant local jurisdictions the authority to establish land banks. The findings from this study will help build the case for such legislation and inform a future roadmap for implementation.
This study will map and assess the regional distribution of VADF parcels and evaluate their feasibility for land reuse. Designed as a proof-of-concept, the study will not guide site-specific development but will instead offer a regional snapshot to inform future planning, policymaking, and investment strategies. Key objectives include:
Create a comprehensive visual representation of vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, and foreclosed parcels across the region, while identifying limitations and opportunities in available datasets.
Use layered data to assess which areas hold the most potential for strategic land reuse and possible land banking applications.
Produce a publicly available report outlining key findings, policy implications, spatial criteria, and recommendations for future research and data infrastructure—laying the groundwork for scalable solutions
Unlocking New Pathways
Clemente Mojica, NPHS President and CEO
To ensure the work remains grounded in real-world applicability, NPHS has convened a Community Land Reuse Advisory Committee comprised of cross-sector leaders in housing, policy, planning, and community development. This committee will provide strategic insight on data interpretation, policy development, and the integration of the findings into ongoing regional housing efforts. Their input will shape NPHS’ long-term strategy for advocating statewide land bank legislation and deploying regional land reuse tools.
This study marks a foundational step in NPHS’ broader strategy to create scalable, health-conscious, and equity-centered housing solutions across the Inland Empire. By spotlighting patterns of disinvestment and identifying untapped land potential, NPHS aims to shift the narrative—repositioning underutilized land as an opportunity to build community wealth, resilience, and affordable housing options.