Community Partners Program
Available BBR Land Bank properties may be purchased or leased from BBR through the Community Partners Program. Individuals, not-for-profit organizations, for profit organizations, and partnerships containing any of these three that are aligned with BBR’s mission of equitable community development and possess the necessary capacity to return property to productive use may apply to purchase or lease available Land Bank properties.
Acceptance to the Community Partners Program is made in accordance with the following policies.
- Only “available” Properties – that is, properties that have not been identified by BBR for other programs – may be purchased or leased through the Community Partners Program. BBR reserves the right to designate any of its Land Bank properties as unavailable at any time prior to entering a binding sale or lease.
- In addition to the application below and depending on the type of project, BBR may request that prospective community partners submit some or all of the following:
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- Detailed development plans, including construction timelines.
- Proof of Social Security Number for individuals or Tax I.D. number for organizations.
- Evidence of financing commitment to support the proposed project.
- Proof of residency.
- Any other information or documentation that BBR determines is necessary or useful in evaluating an application.
- Prospective community partners must not own any real property (including all other property in East Baton Rouge Parish) that is subject to any un-remediated citation of violation of the state and local codes and ordinances. This includes ownership through a business entity or series of business entities.
- Prospective community partners must not own any real property (including all other property in East Baton Rouge Parish) that is tax delinquent. This includes ownership through a business entity or series of business entities.
- Some BBR Land Bank properties were formerly tax adjudicated properties. Formerly tax adjudicated properties are at risk of having title issues associated with the tax adjudication process. Prospective community partners are encouraged to consider this risk, especially if their development plans involve a substantial amount of third-party financing. Sales through the Community Partners Program are made without warranty of title.
- As a State entity, BBR cannot sell its Land Bank properties for less than fair market value. Because of this, any sale will require an appraisal of the property to be performed by a licensed Louisiana real estate appraiser at most 6 months prior to the sale.
- BBR cannot front the costs of either appraisals or title work. BBR will work with prospective community partners if an appraisal is needed or title work is desired. If BBR will be procuring these services, the community partner will be required to provide a deposit sufficient to cover the related costs.
- In cases where two or more eligible community partners express interest in acquiring the same property, BBR will evaluate the totality of the circumstances in selecting an application or denying all applications.
- Upon transfer through the Community Partners Program, the transferee shall be required to bring the property into compliance with current housing, health, and safety codes within three (3) months.
- Community partners who have acquired buildable property through this program for construction will be required to meet agreed upon deadlines for beginning and completing construction. Property acquired through this program for construction is also subject to physical inspection by BBR staff or their designated contractors until the date a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
The Board of Commissioners of BBR must approve all transfers in the Community Partners Program. All timelines are subject to reasonable exceptions for each project.