Strategic Land Acquisition

Built By DAO’s land acquisition process is structured to secure land for long-term community use, sustainable development, and equitable ownership. Rather than purchasing land for speculation, acquisitions are made with the intent to develop permanently affordable housing, commercial spaces, and shared community resources.

Land is acquired through strategic partnerships, DAO treasury allocations, and direct member contributions, ensuring that all acquisitions align with the needs of the DAO and its members. Each decision is subject to on-chain governance, ensuring transparency and community oversight.

Acquisition Pathways

Public-Private Partnerships

Land access is often negotiated through partnerships with municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and mission-aligned institutions. These partnerships allow Built By DAO to secure land at below-market rates, access public grants, or enter long-term lease agreements with entities that align with community development goals.

• Municipal Collaborations – Local governments frequently hold surplus or underutilized land that can be repurposed for community-led development. DAO proposals for public land acquisitions focus on affordable housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure projects.

• Nonprofit Land Trusts – Community land trusts (CLTs) maintain land for permanent affordability, ensuring that the DAO retains long-term access and control. Partnerships with CLTs allow Built By DAO to integrate its developments into existing land preservation strategies.

• University & Institutional Agreements – Universities, hospitals, and other institutions often have land holdings adjacent to growing communities. Partnering with these organizations can facilitate land use agreements that benefit both parties.

Treasury-Funded Purchases

When a development site is identified, treasury funds can be allocated for direct land acquisition. This approach ensures that Built By DAO maintains full governance over the property, eliminating third-party control. Treasury-backed acquisitions follow a review, feasibility, and governance vote process, ensuring that community members make informed decisions before funding a purchase.

• Member-Governed Review Process – Before any funds are allocated, working groups assess zoning laws, development feasibility, environmental impact, and long-term community benefits.

• Escrow & Smart Contracts – Transactions are executed transparently using blockchain-based escrow contracts, ensuring that DAO funds are only released when predefined acquisition conditions are met.

• Revenue Recycling – Properties acquired through the treasury are designed to generate revenue through equity-building leases or commercial use, ensuring that future acquisitions can be funded without relying on external investors.

Member-Contributed Land

DAO members who hold land assets can contribute them to the DAO under governance-approved agreements. These contributions may take different forms:

• Direct Contribution – Members transfer land ownership to the DAO, ensuring permanent community governance over its future use.

• Lease-to-DAO Agreements – A member retains ownership but leases the land to the DAO for a defined period, allowing development while maintaining individual property rights.

• Fractional Ownership Models – Members can tokenize land ownership, allowing partial stake contributions while retaining governance rights.

Each contribution model ensures that land remains accessible to the community while protecting the rights and financial interests of individual members.

Community-Directed Site Selection

Land is not acquired arbitrarily—DAO members vote on which sites to purchase and how they should be developed. The selection process follows clear evaluation criteria to ensure that acquisitions align with economic, environmental, and social priorities.

Key Site Selection Factors

• Land Use Compatibility – Sites must support residential, commercial, or mixed-use development aligned with DAO priorities.

• Zoning & Policy Considerations – Working groups conduct feasibility studies to ensure compliance with local land-use laws, building codes, and development incentives.

• Infrastructure & Accessibility – Locations are prioritized based on transportation access, utility availability, and potential for long-term economic impact.

• Environmental Impact – Land use must align with Built By DAO’s sustainability commitments, prioritizing brownfield redevelopment, adaptive reuse, and conservation-focused development.

Once a site is proposed, DAO members review its feasibility, participate in working group discussions, and vote on whether to proceed with acquisition.

Anti-Speculation & Long-Term Governance

To prevent land flipping or speculative use, all DAO-acquired land remains under governance structures that ensure it serves the long-term interests of the community. This includes:

• Governance-Controlled Stewardship – Land use and future development decisions remain subject to on-chain voting.

• Non-Extractive Development Models – Acquired land is used for permanent housing, community spaces, or regenerative economic projects, preventing market-driven displacement.

• Right-of-Use vs. Private Ownership – Members have rights to live, work, or build equity on DAO-owned land, but land itself remains community-controlled to ensure accessibility for future generations.

Through transparent governance, partnerships, and decentralized funding, Built By DAO ensures that all land acquisitions directly serve the long-term mission of creating equitable, community-driven developments.