no expert in the topic, but this comparison is only meaningful if compared to the local cost per unit of raw land - land prices in SD metro are probably way hig

no expert in the topic, but this comparison is only meaningful if compared to the local cost per unit of raw land - land prices in SD metro are probably way higher, esp. compared to this particular part of houston won't try to categorize - take a streetview tour: https://goo.gl/maps/9sEyR9YRRR2EDFND8 https://goo.gl/maps/9sEyR9YRRR2EDFND8 what is clear is that this area is mostly empty fields or pretty poor, with vastly more expensive gentrifying houses popping up in the greenspace. a large area land trust can buy large chunks, preventing speculation on the greenspace from completely removing the existing community subsequently, since community members are part of the trust, they would defacto own all of the local land, guarding against future speculation and ensuring a like-minded voting block w/r/t local property tax policy (which is huge in TX and in practice what serves as the state income tax) so to me the topic is basically like rent control for real estate. whether or not this is the state's business is another topic - interesting that our free market, 'classless' republic is in effect building up a hereditary landowning class though.