Chair Ung Q&A: Garcia on greatest challenge facing the land bank
Garcia identifies efficiency and effectiveness in implementing new procedures as the biggest challenge, noting NYC's land bank is unique in combining collections with community-focused property reuse, unlike other cities' models.
And what do you think would be the greatest challenge that the New York City Land Bank would face after it's established?
I think one of the biggest challenges with any new process put in place is making sure that it is effective and efficient.
So that's one thing.
And I don't think it's...
It's solely about this land bank.
It's just putting in new procedures and processes.
And I think the other thing, having studied and talked to other cities that have used community land banks, this is really different because it's about there's a collections aspect and making sure that the city collects its
unpaid debt, but also looking towards that, how do you return the lands or think of properties in the lens of the community.
So New York City is really tasked with creating something a little bit different than what other land banks have been used for in the country that I've seen, that I've observed.