Leavenworth Land Bank

In 2021, the governing body of the city established the City of Leavenworth Land Bank. The bank is and shall be an independent agency with the primary responsibility and authority to efficiently acquire, hold, manage, transform, and convey surplus city properties and other abandoned, tax-foreclosed, or otherwise underutilized or distressed properties in order to convey these properties into productive use.

According to Ordinance No. 8168, 
 

  • (a) There is hereby established a land bank board of trustees, which shall govern the bank. The city commission shall function as the board of trustees.
  • (b) The city commission's expectation is that primary city staff support to the board will come primarily from the city's director of planning and community development, or his or her designee, or such other city staff as the city commission may be willing to provide. The city commission expects that city staff will provide technical and professional support for bank operations, but that additional support may be contracted for or provided as deemed necessary.
  • (c) The city commission shall advance operating funds to the bank to pay expenses of the board and the bank.
  • (d) The bank may be dissolved by ordinance of the city commission, with or without cause. In such case, all property of the bank shall be transferred to and held by the city and may be disposed of as otherwise provided by law.