The Ann Arbor Community Land Trust
Building a Sustainable, Equitable, Affordable
Third Century for Ann Arbor
About the Ann Arbor Community Land Trust (A2 CLT)
Founded in 2024 by EA2, A2 CLT serves as a nonprofit developer with a focus on homeownership, affordability, sustainability, and strong community ties.
Guiding Principles
Home Ownership
New homes at affordable prices
Eligibility
Critical workers who are essential to the city
Permanent Affordability
Deed restrictions with a fixed rate of appreciation
Lower Costs
Savings on commuting, vehicles, and energy
Community
Shared stewardship of A2CLT and strong social ties
What is a Community Land Trust?
A community land trust (CLT) is a local nonprofit that governs property for the benefit of its community, often with a focus on housing affordability. Community land trusts use a "shared equity" model, where they sell homes for below-market prices, and buyers agree that the equity in the home is shared by the CLT. The home has a ground lease or deed restriction that governs its resale to another family at an affordable price.
Community land trusts originated during the civil rights movement when the first CLT, New Communities Inc. was founded in Georgia in 1969. This grassroots effort was led by Charles and Shirley Sherrod and Slater King from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to secure land and housing for families being evicted due to their civil rights activities. Today, CLTs are used in many communities to promote fair and sustainable housing, keeping neighborhoods strong and inclusive.