Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT)
Durham, NC — primary existing CLT in the project’s geography
Stub
DCLT is the operating Community Land Trust in Durham. Before Wellspring forms or partners with any CLT structure, DCLT needs to be understood — both as a potential partner and as the existing institutional context we’d be operating alongside.
What We Know
- Holds land for permanently affordable homeownership in Durham neighborhoods
- Recently expanded into multi-unit development (acquired 2.28 acres for 48+ units as of research period)
- Deep relationships with Durham neighborhood associations and city housing office
- Established legal/operational infrastructure for CLT ground leases in NC
The Strategic Question
Partner with DCLT vs. form a new CLT?
Working with DCLT:
- Existing infrastructure, relationships, legal standing
- Faster path to ground lease structure
- Less mission control — DCLT has its own priorities and governance
- May not be structured for cooperative (LEHC) housing — primarily homeownership focus
Forming a new CLT:
- Full mission alignment
- Significant overhead — legal formation, IRS 501(c)(3), community relationships
- Years of runway before operational
- Probably not necessary if DCLT can serve the function
A land trust that exists specifically for Wellspring’s cooperative model may be overkill. The more practical path may be a ground lease agreement with DCLT as the land holder, with the Wellspring cooperative as lessee.
Open Questions
- Does DCLT have experience with cooperative (LEHC) structures, or only individual homeownership?
- Would they hold land for a larger multi-unit cooperative development?
- What’s their capacity — are they stretched?
- Who are the right people to have early conversations with?
To Do
- Review DCLT’s current portfolio and strategic plan
- Understand their multi-unit development experience
- Explore whether a ground lease for a cooperative building is within their scope
- Identify introduction pathway