Collective Ownership
What is Collective Ownership?
Collective ownership means that the people who live and work in a neighborhood—not outside investors or institutions—hold real decision-making power over the land, buildings, and businesses that shape daily life. It is more than just participation or consultation; it is ownership, stewardship, and leadership rooted in the community itself.
At Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT), community control looks like neighbors, small business owners, and local leaders coming together to decide how properties are used, what kinds of businesses are supported, and how to make sure families can afford to stay in the neighborhood for generations to come. It’s about keeping wealth local, preventing displacement, and building a future that reflects the needs and values of the people who are already here.
Community control creates stability, nurtures pride, and allows residents to shape a neighborhood that is vibrant, affordable, and welcoming to all.
The status quo excludes the community, does not build knowledge and capacity in the community, and extracts value. The KCT leverages a Neighborhood Trust model to maintain community control of property use and values in perpetuity while reinvesting income into community programs. This framework protects the property from significant price escalation while allowing income from the property to be reinvested into community programming and improvement initiatives.
What We Are Not
KCT is not a Community Land Trust (CLT). CLTs typically focus on homeownership affordability and are often centered on residential properties. They also usually produce 99-year land leases, which we do not. While we share a commitment to affordability and equity, our focus is broader. We steward residential, commercial, and community spaces together to create a thriving neighborhood ecosystem.
KCT is also not a Business Improvement District (BID). BIDs are usually funded and governed by property owners or businesses to deliver specific services like cleaning and security. By contrast, KCT is governed by community members themselves, ensuring decisions are made with—and for—the neighborhood as a whole.
Our Model: The Neighborhood Trust
The KCT pioneered a unique model we call a Neighborhood Trust. In this model, property and resources are held collectively, and the neighborhood itself governs how those assets are used. The Trust is structured to ensure that control remains in community hands permanently—not just for today, but for future generations.
By combining community governance with long-term stewardship of property, the Neighborhood Trust creates an engine for affordability, opportunity, and local wealth. It is a new approach to community development—one that prioritizes people over profit and ensures that the neighborhood grows in a way that reflects the vision of those who call it home.
