ABOUT TWO RIVERS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
Two Rivers Community Land Trust (CLT) buys, rehabilitates and sells homes in Washington County, Minnesota. Our communities include: Andover, Bayport, Blaine, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Lakeland, New Richmond, Newport, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, St. Paul Park, Stillwater, Spring Lake Park and Woodbury.
Two Rivers CLT keeps the land portion of the property and removes it from the speculative, for-profit, real estate market. Two Rivers holds the land "in trust." Qualified buyers purchase the home- but not the land - and pay a small monthly ground lease fee to Two Rivers. This is part of how the home is affordable, because with this model, the sale price of the home is drastically reduced for the buyer.
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If you would like to know more about the process of buying a home with Two Rivers, check out our Buying a Home page.
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If you would like to know if you are eligible for a community land trust home with Two Rivers, fill out our pre-application.
We will contact you and let you know if you're eligible. If you are not, we can have a conversation with you about the reasons why. There may be actions you can take to improve your eligibility.
OUR STORY
In 1999 a group of concerned citizens came together to address a need for affordable home ownership in Washington County. The result of this meeting was the formation of a non-profit organization, Two Rivers Community Land Trust (Two Rivers CLT).
Two Rivers CLT utilizes the community land trust model as a way to provide permanently affordable ownership opportunities to income-qualified families and individuals. Today, the organization is starting its 23rd year. Two Rivers CLT has a portfolio of nearly 60 homes and has served nearly 80 households.
The Washington County area remains a highly desirable place to live with its wonderful parks and open spaces, responsive local governments and strong schools. As a result, home prices are soaring and many families are priced out of the market.
Not surprisingly, stable affordable housing remains a critical need for the area. Two Rivers is committed to continue working with funders and community partners to provide affordable homeownership opportunities to meet this need for the Washington County Area.
STAFF
Sherry Timmermann Goodpaster
Executive Director
Sherry has been the Executive Director for Two Rivers Community Land Trust since 2016. Prior to that she worked as the Executive Director for New Paradigm Partners for 13 years. She is very familiar with the community served by Two Rivers as she grew up in Maplewood and lived for 15 years in Oakdale. Sherry likes reading, riding her bike and floating on the pontoon while her husband fishes.
Zack Zehrer
Property Development Associate
Zack has been a Realtor since 2018 and has always particularly enjoyed working with first time home buyers. Affordable homeownership has been a passion of his since he served an Americorps VISTA term with Habitat for Humanity in 2013. Zack also worked for Tree Trust YouthBuild teaching at-risk high school students construction on rehab projects in North Minneapolis. In his freetime, Zack enjoys playing with his two young children, playing and watching sports, woodworking, camping and hiking.
Carol Jorgensen
Operations Associate
Carol came to Two Rivers with a background in real estate administration and photography, hospitality, administrative support and volunteer management. Working with the administrative and applicant aspects of Two Rivers allows her to put all of these skills in use. Carol and her family have lived all over southern and central Minnesota, and she has a black belt in packing moving boxes.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sunny Bjorklund Schultz, Chair
Mike Meis, Vice Chair
Gene Aho, Secretary
Tanner Johnson, Treasurer
Andrew Gitzlaff
Linnea Graffunder-Bartels
Elizabeth Juelich
John Taylor
David White
Zara Wolfe
The Board of Directors is an active participant in the design and function of Two Rivers Community Land Trust. Coming from various backgrounds, members are able to provide a balance of insights and skills to guide Two Rivers in its efforts to grow as a land trust. The need for affordable home ownership continues to grow as home prices become increasingly out of reach for many Minnesotans.
If you would like to know more about serving on our Board of Directors in the future, please contact us.