Who we are
The Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), a nonprofit organization established in 2003, uses real estate as a tool to benefit urban communities. In much the same way that a land trust preserves open space for future generations, we preserve real estate assets in urban areas to ensure their continued community benefit.
Our work includes land banking and community-inspired real estate development or, more concisely, community development.
Land Banking
When land is expensive, it is often not economically feasible to use it for essential community facilities. By acquiring (by gift or purchase) land and buildings at today’s prices, we ensure that these properties will be available to serve urban communities in the future when the land would otherwise be too expensive.
Community Development
Certain challenging community projects – for example, redeveloping a brownfield into an environmentally and socially responsible community – may require more capital, resources, and coordination than a nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental organization may possess. Our function is to provide the staff, expertise, and resources needed to facilitate the development of such projects.
How we work
- Form long-term partnerships with nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental organizations to assist urban communities in addressing their real estate needs
- Acquire and hold strategic sites in anticipation of market changes
- Serve as or partner with the master developer on community developments
