Who We Are
Built on the belief that land belongs to communities.
Paradigm Development and Consulting Inc. was founded on a simple but radical premise: the communities most harmed by speculation and displacement should be the ones who own the land beneath their feet.
Our Story
From one vacant lot to a national movement.
Paradigm Development and Consulting Inc. was born out of urgency. As speculative real estate markets swept through American cities, displacing families, closing community institutions, and erasing cultural landmarks, a coalition of housing advocates, urban planners, and community organizers came together with a different vision.
We chose the community land trust model because it works. By separating the ownership of land from the ownership of buildings, CLTs permanently remove property from the speculative market — ensuring that affordable housing stays affordable, that community food infrastructure stays community-owned, and that historic sites are preserved for the people they belong to.
Today, Paradigm Development and Consulting Inc. operates in 18 states, stewarding 47 properties across three focus areas: adaptive reuse and affordable housing, food justice infrastructure, and historic land conservation. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, accountable to the communities we serve.
What We Do
Three fronts. One mission.
Adaptive Reuse & Affordable Housing
We acquire vacant, abandoned, and underutilized properties — shuttered schools, decommissioned industrial sites, surplus public land — and transform them into permanently affordable housing. Our CLT model ensures these homes remain affordable in perpetuity, regardless of market conditions.
Food Justice
Food insecurity is a land problem. We build community-owned grocery cooperatives, urban farms, and food distribution hubs on CLT land — ensuring that underserved communities have permanent, equitable access to healthy food without the threat of displacement or rent increases.
Historic Preservation & Land Conservation
Culturally significant sites — Black-owned businesses, Indigenous gathering places, immigrant community centers, industrial heritage landmarks — face constant threat from demolition and redevelopment. We protect them by placing them in community stewardship, preserving history while creating living, breathing community assets.
Our Values
What we stand for.
Permanence
We build for generations, not market cycles. Every property we steward is removed from speculation forever.
Community Sovereignty
Communities decide what gets built, how it's used, and who benefits. We are stewards, not developers.
Equity
We prioritize communities that have been most harmed by displacement, disinvestment, and systemic exclusion from land ownership.
Accountability
As a 501(c)(3), we are transparent about our finances, governance, and impact. Our communities hold us accountable.
Leadership
Rooted in community. Driven by mission.
Executive Director
Executive Director
Leading Paradigm Development and Consulting Inc.'s national strategy and community partnerships.
Director of Real Estate
Director of Real Estate
Overseeing property acquisition, adaptive reuse design, and CLT stewardship.
Director of Food Justice
Director of Food Justice
Building community-owned food infrastructure on CLT land nationwide.
Director of Historic Preservation
Director of Historic Preservation
Protecting culturally significant sites through community land stewardship.
Ready to build something permanent?
Whether you're a funder, a government partner, or a community organization — there's a role for you in this work.