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Welcome back to Dispatch on Purpose! In Episode 2 of 2026, host Amy Doll sits down with John Harbin, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority, to break down one of the most important (and often misunderstood) community development tools in our region.
If you’ve ever driven past a vacant home, an abandoned property, or a tax-delinquent lot and wondered “Why hasn’t anything been done with that?” — this episode explains the why, the how, and what’s changing because of the Land Bank’s work.
✅ What the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority is (and why it’s different from other models in Virginia)
✅ How the Land Bank helps tackle vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties
✅ Why the mission is community-first, not just highest profit
✅ The South Norfolk Residential Rehab Grant Program and how it helps homeowners fix it up before it becomes a crisis
✅ The real impact: a powerful story about a homeowner whose unsafe porch threatened her ability to safely enter/exit her home
✅ How grants support critical repairs like roofs, windows, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, porches, and historic preservation
✅ How Land Banks work alongside agencies like the Economic Development Authority, Housing Authority, and partners like Habitat for Humanity
✅ What “land assembly” and “shovel-ready” development really means — and how that can lead to better housing outcomes
✅ The new Strategic Plan and what’s ahead for 2026–2031 (expansion, community engagement, stronger acquisition tools, and statewide collaboration)
✅ How YOU can get involved through Chesapeake boards, commissions, and the Citizen Advisory Committee
This conversation is about more than buildings — it’s about protecting neighborhoods, preserving history, improving safety, expanding attainable housing options, and empowering residents to be part of the solution.
If you live in Chesapeake (or any city dealing with blight and neglected properties), you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how revitalization really happens — and how you can help shape it.
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📅 New episodes drop every two weeks
🏡 Filmed from Amy’s living room — real conversations, real community impact
00:00 Welcome to Dispatch on Purpose (Episode 2 of 2026)
01:10 What is the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority?
04:30 Why Chesapeake’s Land Bank model is unique in Virginia
08:10 “Fix it up, pay it up, give it up” — the Land Bank approach
10:30 South Norfolk Residential Rehab Grant Program overview
14:45 The porch story that changed a homeowner’s life
20:10 How Land Bank projects preserve historic homes
24:00 How Land Bank works with EDA, Housing Authority, Habitat
29:10 Strategic Plan + what’s next for 2026 and beyond
34:00 How residents can join boards & Citizen Advisory Committee
38:00 Closing + where to listen next
👍 If this episode helped you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who cares about Chesapeake’s future.
💬 Drop a comment: What area of Chesapeake do you want to see revitalized most?
#DispatchOnPurpose #ChesapeakeVA #CommunityDevelopment #LandBank #Revitalization #AffordableHousing #SouthNorfolk #CivicEngagement #LocalGovernment #HabitatForHumanity
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