BENZIE COUNTY - Driving on US-31 through northwest lower Michigan, the “Question Mark” building was an unmistakable landmark for residents and businesses alike in the heart of downtown Honor, MI. Adapted in the early 1990s, the two-story commercial building served as an artist community space called the “Wonderland” and its then-occupants erected the recognizable 12-foot question mark sign on the front of the building. Eventually the artist collective left the space and the building remained vacant for the next 20 plus years, each year resulting in further dilapidation and disrepair. This blighted commercial building, centered on Honor’s main street, served as a hulking eyesore for decades, finally falling into tax foreclosure in 2014.

CALHOUN COUNTY - To support local land stewardship and improve lot maintenance, the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority developed the Neighborhood Mow & Maintenance Program. Through this program, local community groups and nonprofits can apply to the land bank to mow and maintain lots in a particular neighborhood or block during the summer mowing season. In return, the land bank provides a $3,000 stipend for the organization.

Many land banks today are working to answer the question, what comes after demolition? While working to address that issue, the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority has found a unique use for land bank properties before demolition: donation to local fire departments. The land bank has provided properties to Battle Creek, Albion, and Sheridan for their fire departments to use for firefighter training

KALAMAZOO - Unlike many land banks in the country focusing strictly on residential properties, the Kalamazoo County Land Bank Authority has taken on commercial property revitalization since its founding in 2009, often using creative paths in revitalizing commercial parcels, as demonstrated by its work in Washington Square.

CALHOUN COUNTY - To kick off its first-ever side lot sale and get residents excited about the opportunity to expand their ownership footprint by purchasing adjacent lots, the Calhoun County Land Bank hosted a Spring Fling event. At this successful event, the Land Bank sold nearly 36 lots in its inventory. The land bank partnered with the City of Battle Creek to host the two-hour event on a Saturday in April to connect with residents living next door to or nearby vacant lots.

FLINT - The Genesee County Land Bank completed renovation of the Oak School in Flint two years ago this month. Originally a school built in 1856 and closed in 1976, the building was then used by Genesee County Community Mental Health for 20 years before becoming vacant and then part of the land bank’s inventory. The land bank partnered with HUD, MSHDA, LISC, the City of Flint, and neighborhood organizations to clean up the property, develop a site plan to transform the historic building into senior housing, and secure financing.

GOGEBIC COUNTY - Large and small communities across the state struggle with a similar problem—they need to address blighted buildings, but lack the funding to do so. While there is certainly a difference of scale in the number of buildings the city of Detroit must tackle versus a smaller city like Ironwood, Detroit and larger cities like it, have greater access to funding sources at the Federal level to help address blight.

MARQUETTE - The Marquette County Land Bank is partnering with Ishpeming High School’s Industrial Arts Program to renovate a formerly abandoned home across the street from the school. The land bank donated the property to the school last year, and starting this semester, students in the advanced construction classes will begin renovating the home as part of their curriculum.

KALAMAZOO - The Kalamazoo County Land Bank is partnering with the Kalamazoo County Treasurer and local municipalities to demolish blighted structures that have been foreclosed on by the county treasurer for delinquent property taxes and are endangering neighborhoods and residents.