Program Overview 

The ABODE Orange Mound Community Land Trust (CLT) is a long-term housing initiative led by the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to preserve affordability, stabilize neighborhoods, and expand access to homeownership in Orange Mound. 

ABODE is designed as both a policy framework and an implementation platform. Narratively, it centers community stewardship, long-term affordability, and protection from displacement. Operationally, it establishes the legal, financial, and land-control mechanisms needed to ensure that public investment in housing continues to serve residents over time. 

Rather than relying on one-time development activity, ABODE is structured to grow deliberately—aligning land control, development capacity, and stewardship practices before scaling. 

What Is ABODE? 

ABODE is a Community Land Trust, a nationally recognized housing model used by cities to create permanent affordability and housing stability. 

Under this model: 

• The Community Land Trust retains ownership of the land 

• Homes on that land are sold to income-qualified buyers 

• Affordability is preserved through long-term stewardship 

• Homes remain owner-occupied and community-serving over time 

ABODE is structured to grow incrementally, beginning with a small number of homes and expanding as capacity, partnerships, and community trust are built. This phased approach allows the program to respond to neighborhood conditions while maintaining strong oversight and accountability. 

How ABODE Works 

ABODE operates through a shared-equity Community Land Trust model that balances individual homeownership with long-term community benefit. 

Narrative Framework 

• ABODE removes land from the speculative market and holds it in trust 

• Homes are sold to income-qualified buyers at attainable prices 

• Homeownership is paired with long-term stewardship and support 

• Affordability is preserved for future buyers, not lost after the first sale 

Program Specifications 

• Land is owned by the Community Land Trust 

• Homes are owner-occupied and subject to resale restrictions 

• Homebuyers enter into a long-term ground lease for the land 

• Resale pricing is structured to preserve affordability while allowing equity-building 

This structure allows ABODE to function as a permanent housing solution rather than a temporary affordability intervention. 

ABODE in Orange Mound 

ABODE is intentionally rooted in Orange Mound, a neighborhood with a nationally significant legacy of Black land ownership, self-determination, and community resilience. 

Despite this history, Orange Mound has faced decades of disinvestment, rising construction costs, and increasing pressure from speculative ownership. ABODE responds to these challenges by: 

• Supporting owner-occupied housing rather than investor-driven development 

• Preserving neighborhood character and historic lot patterns 

• Reinforcing long-term residency and community stability 

• Aligning new development with the needs and priorities of existing residents 

By anchoring ABODE in Orange Mound, the City is building on a tradition of ownership while creating tools to protect that legacy in today’s housing market. 

Strategy 

ABODE is implemented through a phased strategy that aligns land control, development activity, and organizational capacity. 

At launch, the program includes 12 City-controlled parcels located in Orange Mound. These parcels form the initial land inventory for ABODE and provide the foundation for future affordable homeownership opportunities. 

Strategic Approach 

• Secure and steward land before development pressure increases 

• Use early projects to establish design, construction, and stewardship standards 

• Phase development to match program capacity and neighborhood context 

• Maintain flexibility to adapt as market conditions and community needs evolve 

The 12 parcels are not presented as a single development phase, but as a long-term asset base that allows ABODE to grow intentionally and responsibly. 

As part of this strategy, the City will begin with an initial home that translates the ABODE framework into a built example—setting the stage for future development. 

The Demonstration Home 

As ABODE is implemented, the City will develop an initial home to help establish the program’s design, construction, and stewardship standards. 

This early project will: 

• Translate the ABODE framework into a real, built example 

• Test design and construction approaches appropriate for Orange Mound 

• Serve as a learning tool for future ABODE homes 

• Support outreach and understanding of the Community Land Trust model 

The Demonstration Home is one step in a broader, long-term strategy. It supports the launch of ABODE, but the program’s success will be measured by its ability to expand affordable homeownership and preserve affordability across Orange Mound over time. 

The City of Memphis invites qualified builders, designers, and development partners interested in contributing to long-term affordable homeownership in Orange Mound to learn more about the ABODE Community Land Trust. 

Contractors and development teams seeking to participate in early ABODE projects are encouraged to review the Request for Quotation (RFQ) associated with the initial home. Future Request for Proposal (RFPs) will be made available for later implementation phases. 

This RFQ represents an opportunity to engage in a program focused on quality construction, community stewardship, and long-term impact. 

If you would like to learn more about this initiative, please review this folder with related documents, including the ABODE Orange Mound Community Land Trust Master Plan. 

Additionally, HCD will be hosting a Pre-Bid meeting on February 10, 2026 at 12:30 pm, in the Orange Mound Library, 843 Dallas St. to provide additional information  about the Demonstration Home Construction RFP and general Master Plan. 

 For registration Click Here