Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development is receiving $1.2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of an $11.4 million Brownfield Grant program aimed at improving living and working conditions in commercial, residential, and industrial zones across Illinois.
The agency, the third largest land conservancy in the state and home to the Prairie Land Conservancy, is building a Land Bank Authority to partner with local communities across five Illinois counties.
Executive Director Dr. Victoria Livingston said the Prairie Land Conservancy has received EPA funding since 2018 and is focusing on addressing rural housing shortages.
“Our target areas are McDonough, Hancock, Fulton, Warren, and Knox counties,” Livingston said. “Macomb, Carthage, and Dallas City have already joined the Land Bank, and we are in ongoing talks with other communities in these counties.”
Livingston highlighted upcoming meetings with Colchester and Knox County officials and noted interest from Monmouth in Warren County and other Fulton County communities.
Currently, the Land Bank Conservancy operates with three participating communities, with more expected to join. Livingston anticipates beginning property acquisitions as early as November.
“Every community I’ve spoken with reports housing shortages, though the specific challenges vary,” she said. “Larger communities say they have enough starter homes but lack options for mid-career residents seeking larger houses. Some smaller communities need more affordable housing at the lower end of the market.”
McDonough County has seen the largest housing decline—about 5% between 2013 and 2023, equating to roughly 780 fewer homes. This shortage forces some residents to live longer with family or friends to pool resources.
Livingston said some vacant homes in residential areas are unsuitable for occupancy, motivating the Land Bank Conservancy’s efforts to reclaim and repurpose these properties.
“While McDonough County’s overall vacant housing rate isn’t alarming, certain neighborhoods have higher concentrations of vacant or unsafe homes,” she explained.
Vacancies stem from population loss and declining student populations, reducing turnover in some areas. Homeowner vacancy rates in McDonough County stood at 3% in 2013, with renter vacancies at 9%, relatively low compared to neighboring counties.
Warren County, for example, has a homeowner vacancy rate of just 0.9% but still faces housing shortages.
Livingston emphasized that rural communities face unique challenges. Smaller towns like Colchester often lack staff capacity to address housing issues.
“We can provide staffing and legal support,” she said. “Our Land Bank has access to legal tools that can help communities manage nuisance properties—those not complying with building codes or ordinances.”
She stressed the Land Bank does not seek to seize property through eminent domain but aims to assist landowners who struggle to manage or dispose of problematic properties legally.
Existing statutes allow communities to negotiate with owners of nuisance properties through a stepby- step process.
Ultimately, Livingston said the Land Bank Conservancy aims to partner with communities to enhance residential areas and green spaces, benefiting local residents.
“Our goal is to support mutual objectives that improve living conditions and strengthen rural communities,” she said.
