BUFFALO, N.Y. — Residents of the historic Fruit Belt are trying to take ownership of any future developments in their community.

Officials say the Fruit Belt Advisory Council and Community First Alliance hosted a membership drive for a community land trust.

It's something they've been working on for close to three years now.

They say the land trust has been set up in the Fruit Belt with residents taking control of 51 vacant lots over the next five years.

Some have said that since the medical campus was built, affordable housing in the Fruit Belt has been compromised.

"I've been a part of this neighborhood for a long time and my neighbors that are older than I am, who are very close to me, I’ve known these people all of my life and I want to see them get back something that they deserve in the form of their land not being stolen out from underneath them,” said Denise Barr, Fruit Belt Advisory Council.

Individual membership in the land trust is $25 for one year. Membership for organizations is $100 a year.
All stakeholders in the trust will have a say in what properties and businesses are developed on the East Side.

68 people and two organizations have signed up so far.