Sterling Community Land Trust (501c3)
The
underlying assumption and attitudes guiding our Healthy Community
process is that all citizens and communities have inherent levels of
giftedness, strengths, and assets that can be leveraged to revitalize
and build healthier neighborhoods. The Sterling community has many
assets both in terms of vacant land (meaning we can come up with
creative solutions that minimize or avoid displacement, unnecessary
gentrification, and promote safety, health, and economic prosperity) and
as it relates to its people.
Given the rich history of Sterling High School, many alumni of that era are still living (from the likes of Jesse Jackson to local leaders on City, County councils, local professionals, and those who have gone on to do great work nationwide and internationally).
The goals of the Sterling Community Land Trust are:
- Advocate for the historic and cultural preservation of Sterling history and pride
- Advocate for affordable housing (transitional, rental, and home ownership)
- Aid the community in overcoming social justice challenges.
- Build up resident knowledge, skills, abilities, and capacities for change and leadership.
- Partner with individual, private, and non-profit organizations with shared mission and goals for Sterling and Greenville.
- Acquire land to pursue property management activities and programming for affordable housing, transitional housing, and commercial development in keeping with the character, history, and potential of the neighborhood.
- Land bank property to ensure affordability of certain parcels of land into perpetuity.
- Be a resource for capacity building, education, and mentoring for young and adult residents and other communities interested in pursuing a land trust model.
- Advocate for the passing of enabling legislation for Community Land Trusts in South Carolina
Sterling Community Land Trust Website coming soon!
For more information on the Sterling Community Land Trust, contact Mack Lockhart (President, Sterling Alumni) at 864-360-3819 or email at mack.lockhart@carolinafirst.com or William Ellidge (Board Chair, Sterling resident) at 864-250-2860.
