Could a ‘land bank’ help solve Baltimore’s vacant housing crisis? Advocates believe so.

Could a “land bank” help turn thousands of vacant properties across Baltimore into good, lasting homes? A proposal in front of the City Council would create such an entity, used around the country to acquire blighted or neglected properties and get them into responsible hands. And a coalition of housing advocates believe it could be an efficient tool for resolving a problem the city has struggled for decades to address.