Wednesday, April 22
Session 1.1
1:00pm - 2:00pm
· Jefferson A/B
When Zoning Gets in the Way of Housing
Presenters: Jennifer Kuzma, Patrick Hewitt, Michael Love, Patrick Grogan-Myers
CLEAPA
In 2023, a regional partnership between the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and the Cuyahoga Land Bank produced a Single-Family Zoning Analysis for 19 of Cleveland’s First Suburbs. The study earned national attention for its clear diagnosis of how outdated zoning codes restrict infill housing and for its practical recommendations to modernize local regulations. But the real question remains: what has actually changed on the ground since the work was completed? This session looks at how several communities have acted on the recommendations, what code updates they adopted, and how those changes are beginning to influence the pace and feasibility of new single-family and small-scale infill development. Presenters will also highlight early outcomes, including where permitting has improved, where barriers still persist, and what political and community engagement strategies helped move reforms forward. The discussion will outline the steps other Ohio communities can take to modernize their zoning, streamline approvals, and remove regulatory hurdles that suppress much-needed housing production. Participants will also learn how regional collaboration made this effort possible and why multi-community partnerships can accelerate progress in ways that isolated efforts often cannot.
Session 2.1
1:00pm - 2:00pm
· Summit D
How Land Banks and CICs Turn Fragmented Parcels into Development-Ready Sites
Presenter: Chad Downing
APA
County Land Banks and Community Improvement Corporations are playing an increasingly critical role in Ohio’s economic development landscape, especially in communities that need to assemble land, reposition underused properties, and attract private investment. This session shows how these organizations take fragmented parcels and stalled sites and convert them into real development opportunities. The featured case study comes from Trotwood, where the Trotwood CIC assembled more than 40 acres across private landholdings, city-owned parcels, and abandoned rail corridors. That effort created a site capable of supporting large-scale industrial investment. As a direct result, two international companies, Beontag and Westrafo, selected the site for new North American operations, each constructing more than 200,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space. Together, they are projected to bring over 500 new jobs and form the base of a growing industrial cluster.
Session 3.1
1:00pm - 2:00pm
· Summit B/C
Serving the Public, Protecting Yourself
Presenter: Danielle Smart
Public service work can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be taxing. Land bank staff and community development professionals routinely navigate high-pressure environments, difficult conversations, and complex community challenges. Managing stress and maintaining mental health is not only important for personal well-being, it is essential to sustaining effective public service. In this session, NAMI Ohio will provide practical tools to help attendees recognize signs of stress, understand common mental health challenges, and respond constructively in both personal and professional settings. The presentation will introduce accessible strategies for self-awareness, stress management, and supporting colleagues and community members who may be struggling. Attendees will leave with a stronger foundation for caring for their own mental health while continuing to serve their communities with clarity, resilience, and professionalism.
Session 4.1
1:00pm - 1:45pm
· Summit A
How Stakeholders Engage With Redevelopment Proposals
Presenters: Janice Becker, Shon Christy, Eric Vaughan
APA
This time is designed as an open, working space for attendees to engage directly with experienced land bank leaders, OLBA board members, and practitioners from across Ohio. Rather than a traditional presentation, this session provides an opportunity to ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, and talk through real projects in a small group, conversational setting. Whether you are navigating a complex property, thinking through a redevelopment strategy, exploring funding options, or trying to understand how other communities are approaching similar issues, this session is intended to connect you with people who have done the work.
Session 1.2
2:15pm - 3:15pm
· Jefferson A/B
Keeping Out of Hot Water on Ethics and Procurement
Presenters: Jeffry Harris, Doug Sawyer, Austin Musser
CLECPIM (AOS)CPEAPA
County land banks spend their days untangling complicated properties, negotiating with multiple partners, and trying to move projects forward without getting tripped up by compliance rules. But even when the alligators are chomping, Ohio’s ethics, public contracting, and procurement laws still apply. This session gives land bank leaders a practical, clear-eyed look at the legal guardrails they must operate within, along with the common pitfalls that can cause trouble. Presenters Jeffry Harris of Bricker Graydon LLP and Doug Sawyer of Sawyer Law LLC will walk through what triggers Ohio Ethics Law (R.C. 102.03) and Public Contracting Law (R.C. 2921.42), when county procurement processes may or may not apply, and how to handle conflicts of interest that arise when directors or their family members have business relationships with the organization. The session will offer rules of thumb, best practices, and real examples that illustrate how issues typically surface.
Session 2.2
2:15pm - 3:15pm
· Summit B/C
Don’t tell me, show me how revitalization works
Presenters: Lorna Swisher, Frances Jo Hamilton
In this session you will hear two stories. Each are vastly different but both garner the same outcome; a love of downtowns and the reestablishing of their function in communities. Lorna and Frances work across Ohio educating and supporting communities that are interested in implementing the four point approach of the Main Street America model. You will learn how revitalization can impact community along with functional next steps that can be implemented in your community today.
Session 3.2
2:15pm - 3:15pm
· Summit D
Scaling Housing Through a Regional Development Model
Presenters: Don Ackerman, Ian Beniston
CPEAPA
Across Northeast Ohio, organizations are confronting the same structural challenge: housing costs continue to rise while individual communities lack the scale, staffing, and capital stack needed to produce new units consistently. Rather than tackling this problem one project at a time, a group of practitioners is testing a regional approach designed to lower per unit costs, standardize development processes, and increase overall housing production through a shared nonprofit development platform. This session features Ian Beniston of Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Don Ackerman of Canton for All People, who will walk through how and why they are working to establish a regional nonprofit developer. Presenters will discuss the gaps this model is designed to address, how regional collaboration can reduce duplication and risk, and what it takes to align governance, financing, site control, and local priorities across multiple communities.
Session 4.3
3:00pm - 3:45pm
· Summit A
How the Cook County Land Bank Built Community Wealth at Scale
Presenters: Darlene Dugo, Gene Kelley
CPEAPA
The Cook County Land Bank Authority is marking its twelfth year, and the results offer a rare look at what large-scale, sustained land banking can achieve in a major urban county. Since its founding, CCLBA has generated more than $291 million in community wealth, returned over $33.5 million to local tax rolls, and is on track to surpass 2,500 fully rehabbed properties placed back into the hands of homeowners and businesses. Its model demonstrates that even in deeply disinvested markets, there is a real and durable demand for naturally occurring affordable housing when barriers to acquisition and redevelopment are removed. Central to this progress is an open and accessible acquisition process that now supports more than 1,300 community-based developers. These local partners have used the Land Bank’s inventory to reinvest in their own neighborhoods, create jobs, boost homeownership, and re-establish economic activity on blocks long written off by the private market. CCLBA’s collaborations with community development corporations, municipalities, and small business owners have further expanded property ownership opportunities in historically marginalized areas.
Session 1.3
3:30pm - 4:45pm
· Jefferson A/B
The Realities of Acquiring Property as a Land Bank
Presenters: Kelley Allesee, Luke Herrmann, Philip Denning
CLECPECPIM (TOS)APA
Acquisition is the foundation of successful land banking, but the process of bringing properties into inventory is rarely straightforward. From tax foreclosure and forfeiture to sheriff sales, tax lien certificates, donations, and direct purchases, land banks have a wide range of tools available. The challenge is not simply understanding these tools, but knowing when and why to use them. This session explores the practical realities behind acquisition decisions and how land banks structure their internal processes to evaluate opportunities. Panelists will walk through how acquisition recommendations are developed, the due diligence required before bringing a property forward, and the policy and strategic considerations that shape final decisions. Presenters will also discuss how leadership priorities, staff analysis, and evolving local real estate conditions influence acquisition strategy over time. Through real examples, the panel will examine how land banks manage tax foreclosure pipelines, navigate sheriff and receiver sales, evaluate property donations, and use tools such as tax lien certificates and agency agreements to build an inventory that supports community goals.
Session 3.3
3:30pm - 4:45pm
· Summit D
Rebuilding a Neighborhood One Block at a Time
Presenters: Shantae Brownlee, Julia Hernandez, Erin McPartland, Alicia Smith
CPEAPA
For the past decade, the Lucas County Land Bank and its community partners have been working to transform a six-block microneighborhood on the edge of downtown Toledo. What began as a collection of disinvested properties has become a long-term, coordinated effort to rebuild a healthy, connected, and resilient place. This session gives attendees a front row seat to that journey. The panel will feature the Lucas County Land Bank, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, and the Junction Coalition, each offering a different angle on how sustained partnership can reshape a neighborhood. Presenters will highlight the mix of strategies used over the years, including greening and stabilization, urban farming, new construction, resident-driven planning, and placemaking initiatives designed to restore identity and pride. Participants will hear how the partners balanced immediate needs with long-term goals, how they sequenced investments to build momentum, and what challenges emerged along the way. The discussion will also explore how community leadership and trusted relationships helped guide decisions and ensure changes reflected the priorities of those who live there.
Session 4.4
4:00pm - 4:45pm
· Summit A
Working With Realtors to Strengthen Communities
Presenters: Veronica Cardello, Stephanie Shackelford, Joshua Murnen, Emory Whittington
APA
Realtors often serve as the front line of neighborhood change, working directly with buyers, sellers, and investors in communities where land banks are also active. This session explores where the work of Realtors and land banks intersects and how stronger collaboration can support housing stability, responsible investment, and community revitalization. Presenters will discuss how land banks and communities can leverage Realtors’ market knowledge, buyer networks, and local presence to improve property disposition, expand homeownership opportunities, and reinforce neighborhood goals. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how coordinated efforts between Realtors and land banks can help move properties back into productive use and strengthen communities over time.
Thursday, April 23 — Morning
Session 2.4
9:00am - 10:00am
· Summit D
How Richland County Delivered 100+ New Units Through Partnerships
Presenters: Daniel Asbury Jr., Amy Hamrick, William Barber
APA
Since 2021, Richland County has delivered more than 100 new housing units on land bank–controlled properties, demonstrating what is possible when public land control is paired with an intentional development strategy. This session breaks down how those units were produced, the partnerships that made them possible, and the housing products now emerging from this work that could reshape the market in other Ohio communities. Amy Hamrick and project partners will walk through a series of completed and in-progress developments that show the range of what can be built on formerly vacant or underused parcels, from single-family infill to small-scale multifamily. The discussion will focus on product design, construction approaches, financing tools, and the criteria used to determine which sites were suitable for each project type. Attendees will also hear how the Richland County Land Bank and its partners streamlined acquisition, cleared title barriers, and structured deals to keep projects moving in a challenging housing market.
Session 3.4
9:00am - 10:00am
· Summit A
Using Community Narratives to Drive Brownfield Redevelopment
Presenters: Roxanne Anderson, Crystal Lorimor, Jamie Zouras
APA
Brownfield redevelopment is more than a technical cleanup. Vacant and contaminated sites carry history, meaning, and community memory, and how those stories are told can shape public support, investment, and long-term success. This session explores how land banks and partners can use authentic local narratives to guide visioning, community engagement, and placemaking. Participants will examine how former brownfields can become third places that foster connection and belonging, and how identifying a community’s shared “North Star” can keep redevelopment people-centered and inclusive. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to align environmental cleanup with identity, pride, and long-term stewardship.
Session 4.5
9:00am - 10:15am
· Jefferson A/B
Land Bank 101 & Tax Foreclosure 101
Presenter: David Mann
CLECPIM (TOS)CPE
This combined Land Bank 101 and Tax Foreclosure 101 session is designed for counties considering the creation of a land bank, newly established land banks, and experienced organizations looking for a practical refresher. It provides a clear, plain-language overview of how land banks operate and how tax foreclosure functions as a core acquisition tool. The session will cover foundational land bank topics, including governance and board structure, statutory powers, property acquisition pathways, ownership and maintenance responsibilities, demolition and renovation activities, disposition strategies, and best practices drawn from across Ohio. Building on that foundation, presenters will walk through the tax foreclosure process from delinquency through disposition, with a focus on how land banks engage at each stage. Attendees will learn the key legal considerations involved in tax foreclosure and the practical differences between Board of Revision foreclosures and full judicial foreclosures, including when each approach is most effective. Whether you are new to land banking, supporting a land bank as a local official, or refining existing practices, this session offers a strong grounding in the tools and processes that drive successful land bank work.
Session 1.5
10:15am - 11:30am
· Summit A
From Contamination to Community Use: A Brownfield Cleanup Case Study
Presenters: Halle Miller, Wade Meese, Matthew Thomas
APA
Cuyahoga Land Bank and Partners Environmental recently completed a complex cleanup effort at 12500 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, supported by a $500,000 US EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant. The site carried a long history of environmentally intensive uses, including a gas station, automotive service facility, commercial printing operation, and a former dry cleaner. Each past use contributed to a range of environmental concerns that required detailed assessment and a coordinated remediation strategy. The cleanup plan combined targeted soil removal in areas where new building foundations will be constructed, in-situ treatment of contaminated groundwater and saturated soils, and the installation of a sub-slab depressurization system as part of the future multi-family residential development. As the project approaches completion, the property is on track to receive both a Voluntary Action Program No Further Action Letter and a Covenant Not to Sue from the Ohio EPA, clearing the way for redevelopment. This session will walk through the technical components of the cleanup, the layered funding sources that made the project possible, and the collaborative approach between the Land Bank, consultants, and regulatory partners. Attendees will gain practical insight into navigating the technical assistance process and managing brownfield complexities from grant award through successful execution.
Session 2.5
10:15am - 11:30am
· Summit B/C
Lessons from the Welcome Home Ohio Program
Presenters: Caitlin Jacob, Anita Schmaltz, Emmy Fabich, Sam Filkins, Susan Vincent
CLECPIM (TOS)APA
This panel brings together the practitioners who have been in the trenches of developing affordable housing through workforce homeownership programs, with a particular focus on the Montgomery County Land Bank’s Welcome Home Ohio initiative. Panelists will draw from direct experience to unpack what it really takes to move these projects from a promising idea to completed homes purchased by first-time buyers. The discussion will begin with the regulatory landscape, including zoning considerations, Board of Zoning Appeals procedures, and other local requirements that shape project feasibility and timelines. From the homebuyer perspective, attendees will hear what works and what does not when preparing first-time buyers for success, including financial readiness, education, and ongoing support. The session will also explore how neighborhood planning and organizing influence project acceptance, highlighting approaches for building community consensus and aligning new development with local priorities. Rounding out the conversation, the Land Bank will share operational lessons from administering the program with limited staff capacity, emphasizing process improvements and strategies for maximizing output despite resource constraints.
Session 4.6
10:30am - 11:30am
· Jefferson A/B
Demystifying Tax Credits: Practical Tools for Financing Housing and Community Revitalization
Presenters: Carrie Manno, Beth Long
CLECPEAPA
County treasurers play a critical role in land banking, from tax collection and foreclosure to statutory service on land bank boards of directors. This session brings treasurers and land bank practitioners together to share real-world examples of how these partnerships function in practice. Presenters will discuss how treasurers support land bank operations, align tax foreclosure strategies with redevelopment goals, and navigate statutory responsibilities while advancing community outcomes. Attendees will gain practical insight into effective communication, coordination, and governance between treasurers and land banks, along with examples of policies and practices that strengthen collaboration and improve results at the local level
Thursday, April 23 — Afternoon
Session 1.6
1:00pm - 2:00pm
· Summit B/C
The Power of Preservation – How Land Banks and Others Can Proactively Prevent Home Abandonment
Presenters: Jim Roseland, Ryan Rathburn, Shantae Brownlee, Scott Swan, Evan Trowbridge
APA
While land banks are often associated with vacant properties and redevelopment, the Lucas County Land Bank has taken a different approach by investing directly in the stability of existing homeowners. This session introduces the Home Preservation Initiative, an innovative program that provides free home visits, technical assistance, and access to affordable capital for residents across Lucas County. Presenters will walk attendees through why a land bank chose to enter the homeowner-support space, what gaps the program fills, and how preservation work strengthens neighborhoods just as effectively as new construction or rehabilitation. The session will explore the program’s structure, the decision points that shaped its design, and the on-the-ground practices that make it both accessible and impactful for homeowners who often struggle to navigate repairs or financing alone. Partners such as Genoa Bank and Directions Credit Union will share how private lenders can play a constructive role in expanding access to capital, reducing barriers to borrowing, and supporting residents with limited resources. The discussion will also highlight early results, lessons learned, and what it takes to build trust with homeowners countywide.
Session 3.6
1:00pm - 1:45pm
· Summit A
How a City and Land Bank Built a Lasting Partnership
Presenters: Matt Martin, Eddie Colbert
APA
Partnerships between local governments and land banks often determine whether a community can meaningfully tackle vacancy, reinvest in neighborhoods, and return difficult properties to productive use. When the partnership is strong, resources align, systems improve, and redevelopment efforts move with far less friction. When it is not, even the simplest projects can stall. This session looks closely at what it takes to make the partnership work in the real world. The City of Warren’s Safety and Service Director and the Trumbull County Land Bank will reflect on fifteen years of collaboration, from early missteps and mismatched expectations to the structures they eventually built to stay aligned. Presenters will describe how the partnership has evolved as market conditions shifted, new programs emerged, and community priorities changed. They will also highlight practical examples of how strong coordination has improved code enforcement, stabilized neighborhoods, and advanced complex redevelopment projects. Participants will gain insight into communication practices, accountability systems, shared planning efforts, and the day-to-day habits that keep both sides moving in the same direction. Whether your community is building a new partnership or working to repair an old one, this session offers grounded lessons on how to turn city–land bank collaboration into a real engine for neighborhood progress.
Session 3.7
2:00pm - 2:45pm
· Summit A
Where Infrastructure Meets Imagination
Presenter: Arin Blair
APA
In 2025, the City of Sandusky completed a $5 million overhaul of Columbus Avenue, the central spine of its historic downtown. What began years earlier as a community-driven vision has become a cornerstone of the city’s place-based economic development strategy. The project expanded sidewalks, improved accessibility, added flexible community event space, and reimagined three blocks of the city’s primary civic and commercial corridor. The result is a pedestrian-friendly district that has already changed the trajectory of downtown activity. Early data reinforces the impact. The Greater Sandusky Partnership reported an 11.8% increase in summer foot traffic compared to 2024, with strong growth in local, regional, and visitor engagement. The path to this outcome was built on long-term planning: the creation of a Central Public Improvement TIF district in 2018, conceptual design work adopted in the 2021 Downtown Master Plan, and a coordinated financing and implementation strategy that aligned partners and resources over several years. This session offers a deep dive into how Sandusky planned, financed, designed, constructed, and communicated a transformational public realm project. Attendees will learn how thoughtful infrastructure investments can spark private development, elevate downtown experiences, and strengthen civic pride across an entire region.
Session 1.7
2:15pm - 3:30pm
· Summit B/C
Stop Illegal Dumping and Restore Contaminated Property
Presenters: Desmond Maaytah, Michael Weinstein, Julianne Nesbit
APA
Illegal dumping is more than a nuisance. It is expensive, environmentally damaging, and often concentrated in neighborhoods that already carry a heavy burden of disinvestment. This session offers a high-level but practical look at what it takes to intervene, secure contaminated sites, and move them through Ohio’s assessment and cleanup process using available state tools. Attendees will learn the key considerations involved in property seizure and control, including the legal steps required to document violations, establish ownership pathways, and prepare sites for environmental evaluation. Presenters will walk through the Voluntary Action Program’s assessment and remedial process, explaining what testing is required, how timelines unfold, and what hurdles communities should expect along the way. A significant portion of the discussion will focus on leveraging ODOD brownfield assessment and cleanup funding to support remediation and eventual redevelopment. The session will also explore legal and financial tools that can deter illegal dumping, streamline enforcement, and protect public resources. Recent media coverage and a short video produced by the Land Bank will help illustrate how these issues play out in real time. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to stop ongoing dumping and unlock the potential of contaminated properties.
Session 2.7
2:15pm - 3:30pm
· Jefferson A/B
Cuyahoga Land Bank and CHN Expand Housing and Economic Opportunity Through Strategic Partnership
Presenters: Ricardo Leon, Kevin Nowak
CLECPEAPA
Across Ohio, land banks are being asked to do more with limited staff and resources. One of the most effective ways to expand capacity is through intentional, mission-aligned partnerships. This session highlights the collaboration between the Cuyahoga Land Bank and CHN Housing Partners, a long-standing alliance that has accelerated residential development, strengthened economic opportunity, and broadened the reach of both organizations. Presenters will walk through how the partnership was built, how responsibilities are structured, and how each organization leverages its strengths to move more projects forward than either could alone. The discussion will cover pipeline development, site selection, financing approaches, and the shared systems used to coordinate property acquisition, rehab, and construction. Examples of completed and active projects will illustrate how strategic alignment can scale production, stabilize neighborhoods, and create new housing options for a wide range of residents.
Session 3.8
3:00pm - 3:45pm
· Summit A
Community Development 101: A Holistic Approach to Stabilizing Weak Market Neighborhoods
Presenters: Torey Hollingsworth, Sarah Allan, David Zenk
Land banks play a critical role in stabilizing weak market neighborhoods, but lasting impact requires more than strategic property disposition—it demands a holistic approach through community development. This session provides an overview of the core theories behind neighborhood stabilization, with a focus on how to gradually strengthen housing markets and increase property values in ways that benefit existing residents. Moving beyond real estate alone, the session explores how housing strategies intersect with broader systems such as access to healthy food, quality jobs, transportation, and neighborhood amenities, and how these factors collectively influence both resident well-being and market confidence. Grounded in the history of community development and its roots in community organizing, this session will also examine how those origins continue to shape equitable, place-based strategies today. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to align land bank tools with comprehensive community development efforts that support long-term, inclusive neighborhood stability.
Session 1.8
3:45pm - 4:45pm
· Summit B/C
Leveraging the Ohio VAP for Commercial Redevelopment
Presenters: Wendy Lavey, Doug Sawyer, Brent Smith, Nancy Kessler
CLEAPA
For many land banks, commercial properties are among the most challenging assets in their inventory. The Ohio Voluntary Action Program offers a path forward, but navigating it requires an understanding of both the regulatory framework and the practical realities of environmental cleanup. This session provides a step-by-step overview of how land banks can effectively use the VAP to move contaminated commercial sites toward productive reuse. Presenters will cover the essentials of entering the program, walk through common eligibility issues, and highlight potential roadblocks that can complicate the process. Attendees will learn how to scope and sequence Phase I and Phase II assessments, when and how to use Ohio EPA’s technical assistance, and what strategies can help a project achieve a No Further Action letter even when full cleanup is not feasible. The discussion will also address the Covenant Not to Sue process and what land banks should expect after regulatory closure. The panel brings together environmental attorneys, technical consultants, and a practitioner with direct land bank experience to provide a rounded view of both the requirements and the practical decision-making involved. Participants will gain a clearer sense of how to evaluate sites, manage risk, and use the VAP to support long-term redevelopment goals.
Session 2.8
3:45pm - 4:45pm
· Jefferson A/B
Pattern Books Help Land Banks Develop New Housing and Pave the Way for Pre-Approved Plans
Presenters: Veronica Cardello, Erica Spaid Patras, Steven Tholl, Matt Schefly, Hope Paxson
APA
Panelists from Summit Co. LB, City of Zanesville, and the Ohio Coalition of Land Trusts Network will discuss how the use of a pattern book of housing plans is central to their housing development strategies. Summit Co. Land Bank will share how it’s partnering with the City of Akron to develop pre-screened plans to promote infill development. City of Zanesville will discuss their pre-reviewed plans and how they partner with the Land Bank to pair lots to housing plans. Ohio CLT Network will describe how pattern books and pre-approval programs will lower barriers to development, especially developing on land trust properties. Ohio REALTORS will discuss the current landscape of pre-approved building plan programs in Ohio and nationally. The discussion will be moderated by Greater Ohio Policy Center.
Session 3.9
4:00pm - 4:45pm
· Summit A
Growing Tree Equity — Reforestation as a Land Bank Strategy
Presenters: Julie Harris, Lydia Lynch, Isaac Robb
APA
Presentations hosted on Google Drive. Contact [email protected] with questions.
