St. Joseph Land Bank

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Application

File:Landbankapplication.pdf

Communications

Jul 25

Hi Josh, In response to your question about our experience with similar development projects:

We bring significant relevant experience, including through our spinoff initiative, the Open Building Institute.

Housing: We build energy-efficient homes using sustainable construction methods and renewable energy systems. You can view our latest build — currently for sale in Maysville, MO — which we completed in February. The models we propose in this project would be similar in performance, but feature more diverse geometries and flat roofs to optimize for solar integration and energy efficiency. Based on feedback from our current model, we also plan to incorporate larger porches and revised interior layouts.

Green Infrastructure & Community: Our headquarters is on a 30-acre farm, where over the past 15 years we've developed extensive edible landscaping, orchards, and rotational livestock systems (chickens, goats, pigs, cows). Our work promotes food access, healthy living, and community interaction. We're also installing a 120 kW photovoltaic system on our new production workshop, currently under construction.

Workforce Development: We're launching the Future Builders Academy, a technical and liberal arts training program. Our model trains 24-person student cohorts in hands-on trades and systems thinking, with a path to employment. Graduates are hired as construction managers at starting salaries of $95k.

To clarify your question: If you're asking whether we’ve led a planned unit multi-residential development ourselves — not yet. However, several of our advisors have extensive experience in this area. You can learn more about our team here: https://www.openbuildinginstitute.org/about-who-we-are/

Does this answer your question? I’d be happy to elaborate further.

Best regards, Marcin

June 25

Hi Josh,

Thanks again for your response and for pointing me to the City Code provisions — Section 2-1521 in particular reads like a perfect match for what we’re hoping to do.

We’re looking to demonstrate a model that brings together affordable housing, green infrastructure, workforce training, and community revitalization — with the broader goal of building resilient and sustainable neighborhoods from the ground up.

Here’s a rough outline of our intended use:

Housing: We'd like to build a code-compliant, energy-efficient home using renewable energy and sustainable construction methods. In some cases, we may pursue multi-unit housing — such as a 10–20 unit affordable condo or co-housing model — if the site and zoning allow.

Green Infrastructure & Community: We aim to integrate features like edible landscaping, community gardens, and shared green space to encourage healthy living, food access, and resident interaction. We'd also explore incorporating small solar installations and other renewable energy systems as part of the build.

Workforce Development: Construction would be carried out as part of a hands-on builder training program run by our nonprofit, Open Source Ecology. The goal is to provide meaningful construction experience to trainees while building homes of lasting value for the community.

This model touches many of the priorities outlined in Sec. 2-1521 — including affordable housing (ii), urban agriculture and healthy eating (vi), green spaces (vii), revitalization in LMI neighborhoods (i, iv), and returning unused land to beneficial use (ix).

We’d love to collaborate with the City and the Land Bank to pilot this on a donated or discounted lot, and to make St. Joseph a visible leader in community-centered revitalization.

I’d welcome any insights you can share based on your work with the Board, including next steps or guidance on best presenting this to them.

Best, Marcin

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