Center for Community Progress Holds 2011 Land Bank Conference
Published: June 17, 2011
Over 400 government officials, planners, developers, community advocates and activists, and community economic development practitioners gathered in Detroit on June 13 for the Center for Community Progress 2011 Land Bank Conference. Keynote speeches from Dan Kildee, Carol Coletta, and David Rusk provided inspiration and affirmation of the importance of land banks in community revitalization and “place-making” work. The conference also offered over 20 workshops on a variety of topics from land bank financing to communications and messaging to urban agriculture.
Detroit LISC Executive Director Tahirih Ziegler moderated a session on Deconstruction that featured Tom Friesen of Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit (ASWD), who discussed the environmental and workforce development benefits of deconstruction (a sustainable alternative to traditional demolition) and shared ASWD’s experience working with both land-banked and privately-owned properties in greater Detroit.
Founded in 2003, ASWD has completed numerous deconstruction and salvage projects, conducted deconstruction trainings at community colleges and community based organizations, and runs a retail salvage warehouse that supplies the public with affordable used fixtures and building materials. Detroit LISC has been a supporter of ASWD’s capacity building efforts and was also a key sponsor of the Land Bank Conference.
Visit the Center for Community Progress website to learn more about the Land Bank Conference and view workshop presentations.
Written by Katrin Sirje Kärk, Program Officer, Washington DC LISC.
Posted in Community Development in the News