Our History

The City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) is the result of a collective, committed effort by Minneapolis residents and neighborhood associations to preserve affordable homeownership in their communities.

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In late 2001, a collaboration of Powderhorn Residents Group (PRG, Inc.), Seward Redesign, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and the Lyndale Neighborhood Development Corporation (LNDC) began educating themselves on best practices relating to creating and stabilizing affordability in their neighborhoods.

Housed and managed initially by PRG, Inc., the collaboration incorporated as the City of Lakes Community Land Trust in August 2002 and acquired its 501(c)(3) status in August 2003. 

Other key points in CLCLT’s history:

• October 2002: First staff person hired in October 2002, now-Executive Director, Jeff Washburne

• 2005: Staci Horwitz joins the CLCLT 

• 2008: CLCLT serves as the fiscal and programmatic sponsor of the Twin Cities Agricultural Land Trust until its incorporation as its own entity.

• 2013: Jennifer Sturtz joins the CLCLT

• 2015: Sheng Vang joins the CLCLT

• 2015: CLCLT merges with Neighborhood Housing Services of Minneapolis (NHSM) and stewards an additional $2 million in community loan funds.

• 2016: CLCLT forms City of Lakes Community Realty, LLC (CLCR) with Broker/Realtor, Osborne Strickland, to facilitate CLCLT developments and homeowner resales.

• 2019: CLCLT adds the Minneapolis Commercial Land Trust Initiative program to its work. 

• 2020: Mollie Mosman and Char McRoy join the CLCLT

• 2020: CLCLT celebrates 300 units in trust and 400 households served

• 2021: Jake Soper joins the CLCLT

• 2021: CLCLT facilitates its 100th resale

To learn more about the history of the Community Land Trust model click here: Roots & Branches: A Gardener’s Guide to the Origins and Evolution of the Community Land Trust.