Kansas City Land Bank Proposal: Learning From Failures Of The Saint Louis Land Bank

Economy | March 5, 2012

By Audrey Spalding | Read Time 1 min

Senate Bill 795 would create a land bank in Kansas City. Proponents have argued that, given the foreclosure crisis, they have to do something
about vacancy. I do not dispute the fact that vacancy is a public policy
concern. However, there is no evidence that the land bank legislation
proposed here will be an effective mechanism for getting vacant property
back into private, productive use, nor is there any apparent evidence
that the system of dealing with vacant property already in place in
Kansas City is inadequate.

About the Author

Audrey Spalding

Audrey Spalding Audrey Spalding graduated in 2009 from the University of MissouriColumbia with dual degrees in journalism and economics. She became fascinated with local government issues while working as an education reporter at the Columbia Missourian, and realized the importance of holding elected officials accountable. Her coverage of the Columbia Public School District's tax levy increase election won a Hearst Journalism Award. Before joining the Show-Me Institute, Audrey worked for the institute as a research intern for a year, and during that time filed more than 500 requests for public information. She is originally from Michigan.

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