Land Banks as a Tool for Rural Redevelopment
Land Banks as a Tool for Rural Redevelopment
A two-part webinar series co-hosted by Rural Partners
Part 1: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 12 PM CT
Part 2: Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 12 PM CT
Redevelopment of small- and medium-sized rural communities can be a challenge, especially for those towns whose business districts have endured years of chronic vacancies and dilapidated storefronts. Join University of Illinois Extension and Rural Partners for an insight-filled two-part webinar series, free of charge, focused on the revitalization of these rural communities in Illinois through the strategic use of land banks.
Land banks are formed by local governments to expedite redevelopment of vacant, abandoned, or deteriorated properties and can be a powerful community and economic development tool. In the first webinar, at noon on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, we will delve into the challenges faced in redevelopment efforts and explore reasons for municipal governments to utilize land banks. This session will bring together Brent Denzin, a partner at Denzin Law with extensive experience in land banking and community development, and Joe VanDyk, executive director of the South Suburban Land Bank in Tinley Park, IL. Brian White of eProperty/Innovations, who is recognized as a national expert on land banks, will serve as the moderator.
The second webinar, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, also at noon, will take a closer look at processes involved in forming, launching and operating land banks in Illinois. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the questions local governments should consider when considering forming a land bank, key policies and procedures that govern their operation, and lessons learned from launching land banks in Illinois. This session will feature Scott Goldstein, a community planner and president of Teska Associates of Evanston, Il, and Dr. Victoria Livingston, executive director of Macomb’s Prairie Hills Resource Conservation & Development. The session will acquaint community leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders with some of the basic awareness they might need to begin the process of standing up a land bank. Brian White of eProperty/Innovations, who is recognized as a national expert on land banks, will serve as the moderator.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of rural community redevelopment in Illinois. Register now to secure your spot in this essential webinar series!
If you will need an accommodation to participate in these webinars, please send a request to mdelany2@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
About the speakers:
Brent Denzin, J.D. is a partner at Denzin Soltanzadeh LLC (“DENZIN”), an innovative leader in land banking, community development and environmental law in Illinois. As lead counsel for land banks, economic development agencies and public-private partnerships, DENZIN designs and employs strategies for acquiring, managing and repurposing distressed property. Brent focuses his practice on commercial/industrial redevelopment, neighborhood stabilization and novel real estate transactions.
Scott Goldstein, FAICP, LEED AP, is a community planner and president of Teska Associates of Evanston, Il. Scott specializes in mobilizing implementation of projects at the intersection of community and economic development. Since joining Teska, Scott has led plans and community development strategies throughout the Chicago region and across the U.S.
Dr. Victoria Livingston holds a BS in Biology from Culver-Stockton college, MS in Biology and a PhD in Large River Ecosystems from Western Illinois University. Her doctoral research focused on trace metal contamination in a former superfund site. After a 15-year career in higher education, Dr. Livingston became the Executive Director at Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development in 2024.
Joseph VanDyk is executive director of the South Suburban Land Bank in Tinley Park, IL. Joe has over a decade's experience in public service with expertise in planning, redevelopment, public policy, and economic development. He holds a graduate degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Fordham University.
Brian White of eProperty Innovations will moderate. Brian brings two decades of community and economic development expertise to his work advising local governments and land banks on how to reactivate property. eProperty Innovations has helped launch land banks serving rural communities in Illinois and in 15 other US states.