Revitalizing Community
The East Baton Rouge Community Land Revitalization Authority (CLRA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formally incorporated in 2023, emerging from an 2019 partnership between New York University's Marron Institute, LabGov, and Build Baton Rouge, the local redevelopment authority.
The CLRA strengthens communities by acquiring and stewarding land and preserving affordability for future generations. Combining features of a land bank and community land trust, we invest in affordable housing, commercial and recreational development, and resilient infrastructure. Through community-centered development, we transform land into lasting opportunities for economic stability and neighborhood revitalization.
Affordable Housing
We steward land for the community, ensuring long-term affordability through sustainable development initiatives with public and private stakeholders.
Greenspace Cultivation
We prioritize the health of our community by creating and preserving vibrant greenspaces that provide safe places to recreate.
Economic Development
We foster local prosperity by developing land for community-led economic initiatives that empower businesses and drive sustainable growth.
The Land Trust Model
The CLRA is a first‑of‑its‑kind hybrid that combines the acquisition power of a land bank with the stewardship of a community land trust.
Traditional land banks acquire vacant or tax delinquent properties but struggle to activate them, while land trusts ensure affordability but face barriers to acquisition.
The CLRA bridges these gaps by acquiring underutilized land through public transfers and holding it in trust for long term community benefit, using long term ground leases to prevent displacement.
