Hartford Land Bank

Hartford Land Bank Hartford Land Bank, Inc. is a 501c3.

Hartford Land Bank identifies & acquires vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent and/or distressed properties in the City of Hartford, Connecticut, to steward their rehabilitation & return to productive community assets. The mission of the Hartford Land Bank is to identify, acquire, and redevelop – directly or through partnership with government, nonprofit, and private sector partners – vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent and/or distressed properties in the City of Hartford, where such redevelopment will: improve community and economic vitality of Hartford neighborhoods, ensure long-term sustainability of impacted properties, and enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses. Hartford Land Bank coordinates its activities with other community, regional and neighborhood partners that pursue objectives and goals complementary to that of Hartford Land Bank. The City of Hartford is a key partner and the Hartford Land Bank Executive Director will be the primary liaison to the City of Hartford.

On Friday, we celebrated the completion of “the Garden Twins”, 597 and 602 Garden Street, with Hartford Mayor Arunan Aru...
09/19/2026

On Friday, we celebrated the completion of “the Garden Twins”, 597 and 602 Garden Street, with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Deputy Housing Commissioner Julian Pierce, Liberty Bank’s Dante Galvez, HLB board and staff, neighbors, and community partners. We’re especially grateful to Liberty Bank Foundation for being part of the funding team that supported gap financing for these projects and that turned two long-vacant lots into new homes for Hartford families.

🏠 Please join us for a Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 597/602 Garden Street on September 18th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The...
09/15/2026

🏠 Please join us for a Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 597/602 Garden Street on September 18th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

These former Hartford Land Bank (HLB) properties in Hartford's Northeast neighborhood were vacant for roughly 25 years, since the previous properties were demolished in 2000 and 2001. HLB acquired the properties from the City of Hartford in late 2022 and in January 2025, HLB sold the two lots to Hartford developer Merestone LLC, to construct a new two-family home on each. For these projects, Merestone partnered with two alumni of the 2023 HLB Developer Cohort: Nathanael Johnson (597 Garden Street) and Tahara Chapman (602 Garden Street).

The architectural designs for these two new homes take inspiration from the existing features of the neighborhood as well as its history. Each property has two units each, consisting of 3 bedrooms and 1.5 to 2 baths per unit. Both properties feature new appliances, open layouts, granite countertops, a full basement, ample parking, and new landscaping.

These properties are the second and third new construction projects on former-HLB parcels, and are HLB Homeownership Opportunity Properties, meaning that the selected developer is required to either build or rehabilitate a property and sell to an owner who will themselves occupy the home for at least five years. Both properties will be sold to a homeowner at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or lower when completed.

Come check out the finished products at 597/602 Garden Street and learn more about other upcoming projects. See you on September 18!

Please note that only street parking is available for the event.

Please join us in person for the Hartford Land Bank Annual Board MeetingTuesday, September 15, 2026, 1:00 - 2:30 PM.The ...
09/11/2026

Please join us in person for the Hartford Land Bank Annual Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 1:00 - 2:30 PM.
The Hartford Public Library Arts & Culture Center
500 Main Street
(Metered parking available on the Arch Street lot adjacent to the Library)

This event will include our regular monthly board meeting, followed by a chance to connect with HLB Staff, Board and Committee Members, and Community Partners.
Lunch and refreshments will be served.
RSVP to [email protected].

Please join us for a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 98 & 102 Capen Street on Friday, August 28th, at 11:00 ...
08/26/2026

Please join us for a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 98 & 102 Capen Street on Friday, August 28th, at 11:00 a.m.

These former Hartford Land Bank (HLB) properties in Hartford’s Northeast neighborhood were vacant and blighted since a fire damaged both properties in 2019. HLB acquired the properties from the City of Hartford in January of 2023 and sold both to Hartford-area developers Don Morrison and Arelis Livingston in August of 2024.

Don and Arelis’ team cleaned out, gutted, and reframed the interiors, and replaced the siding, windows, doors, electrical, and plumbing. Both are now modernized two-family homes.

The first floor of each property has 3 bedrooms/1 bath, while the upper floors include a total of 5 bedrooms/2 baths. Both properties feature spacious living and dining areas, front porches, recessed lighting, quartz countertops, white shaker cabinets, and new stainless-steel appliances. Each property features new landscaping, thanks to a partnership between UConn’s School of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture and the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.

These two houses are Homeownership Opportunity Properties, meaning that the current owners/developers will sell each property to an owner who will themselves occupy the home.

Come check out this amazing transformation and stay tuned for more!

Please note that only street parking is available for the event.

Last week, HLB Executive Director Marcus Ordoñez and Director of Operations Tyler Havens traveled to Waterbury for the i...
08/11/2026

Last week, HLB Executive Director Marcus Ordoñez and Director of Operations Tyler Havens traveled to Waterbury for the inaugural Connecticut Land Bank Luncheon and Network Meeting. They joined colleagues from the Waterbury Land Bank Authority and New Haven Land Bank for a great exchange of ideas, experiences, and energy around the work of land banking in Connecticut.

With three land banks now operating in the state, there is a lot of opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen our collective work. We’re looking forward to continuing to share ideas and strategies for turning vacant and blighted properties into productive community assets across Connecticut.

If you missed it in the July issue of our newsletter, HLB partner Housing Development Fund (HDF) produced a short video ...
07/21/2026

If you missed it in the July issue of our newsletter, HLB partner Housing Development Fund (HDF) produced a short video featuring HLB Executive Director Marcus Ordoñez, developers Annette Gaynor and Al Gary, and Broadview Terrace neighbors discussing the transformation of 647 Broadview Terrace and how this project is helping bring new investment and homeownership opportunities to the Behind the Rocks neighborhood. HDF helps make homeownership possible by providing counseling and financing that bridge the gap for first-time and income-qualified homebuyers. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX86Q-KpF-E

Join us for a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting at 647 Broadview Terrace - the first new construction project on a former HLB pa...
07/20/2026

Join us for a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting at 647 Broadview Terrace - the first new construction project on a former HLB parcel!

Please join us for a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 647 Broadview Terrace, on Thursday, July 23 at 11:00 a.m.

This former Hartford Land Bank (HLB) parcel in Hartford’s Behind the Rocks neighborhood was a vacant lot for thirteen years, since the original 1915 wood-frame house was torn down after a large tree fell on it in 2012. HLB acquired the property from the City of Hartford in October 2022 and sold it to Merestone, LLC in January 2025. A groundbreaking for the project took place in June of 2025. For this project, Merestone, LLC has partnered with Annette Gaynor, another Hartford-based developer who previously rehabbed another former HLB property at 156 Mather Street.

The new single-family home has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, granite countertops, central air, a full basement, a shed, and an attached garage. The simple farmhouse design is in keeping with the existing early-twentieth-century homes on this street.

This is the first new construction project on a former-HLB parcel, and is an HLB Homeownership Opportunity Property, meaning that the selected developer is required to either build or rehabilitate a property and sell to an owner who will themselves occupy the home for at least five years.

647 Broadview is the first of three new construction projects that paired an experienced developer with an HLB Developer Cohort Alumni. Joint ventures like this further HLB’s goal of supporting local developers and giving emerging developers experience with new construction.

Come check out this amazing transformation and stay tuned for more!

Please note that only street parking is available for the event.

Welcome our two newest Board members! At its February meeting, the HLB Board elected two new members, Lillard Lewis and ...
03/19/2026

Welcome our two newest Board members! At its February meeting, the HLB Board elected two new members, Lillard Lewis and Mark Teare. Lillard is a commercial real estate executive with a background in business development and advising. He is a U.S. Army veteran and lives in Hartford’s West End. Mark has a background in commercial real estate and construction project management and lives in the South Downtown neighborhood of Hartford.

🍿 HLB On the Screen:Recently, HLB created a short video for a grant application highlighting our mission, past and curre...
02/13/2026

🍿 HLB On the Screen:

Recently, HLB created a short video for a grant application highlighting our mission, past and current projects, and the community and funding partners who make our work possible. The process offered an opportunity to reflect on how far the Land Bank has come since acquiring its first properties five years ago… and to look ahead to our continued efforts to expand equitable homeownership opportunities across Hartford neighborhoods.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1ryCNjvBsB0?si=Wlgz2LYKyWamkox5

🚗 HLB On the Road: Hartford Land Bank Executive Director Marcus Ordoñez & Director of Operations Tyler Havens recently p...
02/12/2026

🚗 HLB On the Road:

Hartford Land Bank Executive Director Marcus Ordoñez & Director of Operations Tyler Havens recently presented to students at the UConn School of Medicine, introducing the role of land banking and its impact on housing stability and community health in Hartford. Marcus discussed factors contributing to the city’s low homeownership rate and highlighted former HLB properties and projects currently under construction. The presentation underscored HLB’s collaborative work with community and financial partners to return vacant and distressed properties to productive use and break the cycle of blight, followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Marcus also presented an overview of HLB’s work to date to the Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), where he is a member of their Advisory Committee. CRCOG has embarked on a multi-year Regional Housing Strategy to provide tools to assist municipalities with implementation of their local Affordable Housing Plans, provide training tools and resources, and explore regional roles in creating housing.

If your school or organization would benefit from learning more about HLB and land banks, please contact us. We have a limited number of spots open on our spring and summer calendars.

Address

1049 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT
06105

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18603350347

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