Property values continue to rise here in Dallas and all over the country, straining longtime homeowners who are struggling to pay their corresponding property taxes and stay in their homes, and making it more difficult for new homeowners to enter the market.
Community land trusts are an affordable housing model that aim to keep homes permanently affordable for working families — and now Dallas has one. On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Dallas Community Land Trust (DCLT) hosted its first open house, showcasing two homes in Bertrand and Dolphin Heights that will be available for purchase by the end of the year. We spoke with Ossie Kendrix, executive director of the DCLT, about how the land trust works and what it means for Dallas neighbors.
When was the Dallas Community Land Trust established?
The Dallas CLT began taking shape in 2022. By 2024, a formal board was established with seven founding organizations: The Real Estate Council (TREC) Community Investors, Builders of Hope, Frazier Revitalization, Southfair CDC, Innercity Community Development Corporation, Cornerstone Community Development Corporation and the Communities Foundation of Texas. Our leadership team engaged in early 2025. I [Ossie Kendrix] started as executive director April of 2025.
What is a community land trust?
A community land trust (CLT) is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide an affordable path to home ownership by keeping land costs low. It does this by owning the land and separating it from the cost of the home, which lowers the upfront purchase price and helps keep the home permanently affordable.
When someone buys a home through the CLT, they purchase the house but lease the land for a small monthly fee –– typically $25 to $40 per month –– through a long-term, renewable ground lease. This split-ownership model removes the cost of the land from the purchase price, which lowers both property taxes and the overall cost of homeownership. As a result, the home stays affordable not just for the first buyer, but for every future homeowner as well…