Land Bank Twin Cities, Inc.

Moving Land, Capital, and Strategy for Community Power

Land Bank Twin Cities, Inc. confronts racial and economic inequities by transforming how real estate is owned, developed, and preserved in the Twin Cities.

We operate as a social impact real estate and finance intermediary, using land, capital, and strategy to prevent displacement, preserve community ownership, and advance racial equity. When market forces move too fast or exclude communities from opportunity, we step in.

Mission

The Land Bank captures strategic real estate opportunities to benefit people with low to moderate incomes, prioritizing BIPOC individuals and communities, and populations facing barriers. 

That all people in the seven-county metropolitan region of the Twin Cities have the opportunity to live and prosper in a community of their choice.

Vision

All people living in the seven-county metropolitan region of the Twin Cities have the opportunity to live and prosper in a community of their choice.

How We Work

Land Banking	When deals are at risk of falling through, we step in. We acquire and hold properties to give mission-driven partners time to secure funding and complete development, often preventing tenant displacement. In 2023, we purchased the Kyle Square Garden building in downtown Minneapolis and held it for 14 months while Alliance Housing secured $25 million in financing. The project broke ground in 2024 and will create 59 deeply affordable units for individuals experiencing homelessness. In the Corcoran neighborhood, we purchased five apartment buildings in 2020 to preserve 49 naturally occurring affordable housing units that were at risk. Tenants organized as Sky Without Limits Cooperative and successfully purchased four of the five buildings in May 2025, creating a replicable model for community ownership. of land and/or property to be held for a future development opportunity and use.
Strategic Acquisitions	Acquisition of land, commercial, or residential property with an identified end-user/purchaser.We purchase properties with identified end users, stepping in early so community-based organizations can assemble capital without market pressure. Recent acquisitions include an historic Selby Avenue property for Rondo Community Land Trust and a property on Arcade Street for 30,000 Feet, where they completed a sustainably designed facility that will support community programming and small business development.
Community Lending	Loan products for pre-development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and construction of one- to four-unit housing.We provide flexible, instrumental financing that supports equitable development and helps emerging developers build capacity and access new opportunities. Our loans support projects from single-family homes to commercial corridors, prioritizing developers from historically excluded communities. Through community partnerships, we've helped 74 households become owner-occupants of small, two- to four-unit buildings, with about three-quarters of the new owners considered low-income. Our commercial lending has supported local food ventures, community spaces, childcare centers, and mixed-use developments in core neighborhoods across Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Our Impact

In the past five years, with support from partners and donors, Land Bank Twin Cities has:

• Supported more than 1,100 homes for families across the metro area
• Financed $7 million in loans to emerging BIPOC developers
• Preserved and developed commercial properties that create jobs and vibrancy in disinvested areas
• Generated an estimated $184,900 in social impact per housing unit

These numbers represent families finding stability, entrepreneurs opening doors, and neighborhoods rebuilding power.

Why Your Support Matters

The Twin Cities real estate market moves fast. Opportunities to create affordable housing or support community-led development often disappear before nonprofit and public partners can act. We exist to bridge that gap.

We purchase and hold properties until mission-driven developers are ready. We provide instrumental financing and technical support to emerging developers. We help historically excluded communities and developers access capital. Every contribution supports our ability to act quickly when communities need us.

Join Us

Your gift allows us to remain nimble and create space for more families and entrepreneurs building futures rooted in dignity and stability. By giving today and learning more about our mission, you are part of building a more equitable Twin Cities, where opportunity and ownership are within reach for everyone.

Support Land Bank Twin Cities’ work to make space for all
in the Twin Cities community.