Detroit frees up thousands of Land Bank properties

Driving the news: Sheffield announced Monday the removal of city-imposed holds on 7,500 Land Bank properties, bringing the total released under her administration to about 16,000.

• Of those, about 4,000 are available now on the Land Bank's website, with the remaining expected to be made available in the coming weeks.
• Some properties had been reserved for larger development projects.

🗺️ A new listings map for the Land Bank's 56,000 parcels shows property availability, along with areas set aside for development.

Context: The Land Bank expanded its role in 2014 under former Mayor Mike Duggan, consolidating thousands of publicly owned vacant properties to facilitate blight demolition and property sales. It's now the city's largest property owner.

Follow the money: The announcement included $3 million in grants to help residents renovate and purchase Land Bank properties.

What's next: Sheffield says more reforms focused on partnerships with residents and community stakeholders are planned.