Ideas for setting up communities

I'm trying to think of ways within the existing legal infrastructure that communities can form.
The communities would split the monthly loan payments, and have a group money venture.
Buy land from "agreeable" owners on a lease to own basis with no down payment
Research possible DONORS of land, land held for taxes, abandoned land gotten for the cleanup

1. mobile home parks - zones in urban areas, each lot must be 40ft by 100ft, water, sewer

2. camping clubs -- land with "primitive" campsites that allow "temporary" type houses (cob, etc)

3. old apartment houses, with yards -- lease the building, split the rent, have a group money venture


I'd like to find a place in Washington State.

The "ask an expert" feature on the PRI messageboard has an expert in Community Land Trusts: http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16179-Round-5-Ask-Bob-Corker-a-Question-on-Community-Land-Trusts&p=100288#post100288

I really like the idea of re-establishing ghost towns.
They sometimes have a basic infrastructure and buildings.
So... doing some research I went to:
http://www.ghosttowns.com/
In the state of Washington, in Jefferson county, there was an old mill town called "Port Discovery"
with a picture of a structure that was falling into the water. Abandoned.
Not a new idea... but... often states or counties are put in charge of cleaning up these
abandoned and/or dirty and hazardous sites. But... cities, counties, states, countries...
are strapped for cash and funds are earmarked for more pressing needs.

What research I have done with "tax due" properties, is that if a property is taken by
the state for owing taxes, and it doesn't sell in the bidding process (real estate markets
pick more viable properties and leave problem properties) -- then the city or county has
to come in, demolish the property and sell it on the market -- sometimes for the cost all
that cleanup the city had to embark on.

Sometimes people have property that they are required to carry insurance on, and the
cost of insurance is cheaper if there is someone living on the property protecting it.
Basically... couldn't a group of people make a proposal to a city or county to exchange
ownership of the property if they promised to clean it up??
Don't cities and counties have lists of "clean up sites"? Abandoned tax-owing properties?

How could a person do a search on such things?
Would a person or group just go to a town council meeting and ask?
Is there a homestead law that allows groups to stake a claim on abandoned properties?
Maybe we can make a national law... that permits people to stake claim on these
in the style of the original homesteading laws... have to have a structure in 5 years, etc.

Feedback??

Linda Sefcik wrote:
Is there a homestead law that allows groups to stake a claim on abandoned properties?

Some states have "adverse possession" laws. Adverse possession is a difficult but legal way to acquire property.

Here's Washington state: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=7.28.070

You could use the desert land entry program.

https://permies.com/t/15387/homestead/Desert-Land-Act

I think in Oklahoma it is three years that a property turns over.

I keep in mind that many of these properties belonged to now-deceased owners.
Some have unpaid mortgages.

An alternative would be...
to find someone - a farmer- with taxes owed...
make a deal to pay the taxes, in exchange for use of the land...
or in exchange for pieces of the property.
Everybody's happy. Farmer keeps his land. You get a piece at discount.

Thanks for the links.

Tyler -- I scrolled through your projects links --
and was really impressed.
Lots of work put in, but it looks really good.
Good luck with the camp you're starting. Another great idea !
Does everyone get a rocket stove to camp with ??

Thank you! I'm saving up tin cans for a rocket stove workshop.

Thanks Tyler for the point at PRI's "Ask the Experts" round with Bob Corker. Bob's question period is still open, so feel free to pose one (or two!). http://forums.permaculturenews.org/showthread.php?16179-Round-5-Ask-Bob-Corker-a-Question-on-Community-Land-Trusts&p=100967#post100967

In addition to making himself available for questions, Bob was interviewed by Craig Mackintosh for a stunning article that contained so much insight I'm still processing it all.
It's longish, but oh so worth a read: Letters from New Zealand