Town Project: Bound

Using the Bound Town Project framework, the residents raised $200,000 via a municipal bond. They legally "bound" the riverfront, preventing the condo development. Today, that land hosts a seasonal farmer’s market, a community workshop for boatbuilding, and the town’s first net-zero library.

Property values in Alder’s Ford have stabilized, but more importantly, civic engagement has soared. Town meeting attendance tripled within two years of the project’s completion. Critics of the Bound Town Project argue that "bounding" land stifles economic growth and limits housing supply. However, proponents counter that the lack of boundaries has led to a tragedy of the commons—where no one feels responsible for Main Street, so Main Street dies. bound town project

In Alder’s Ford, they installed a new iron gate at the entrance to the river walk. Wrought into the metal are the words: "Bound We Stand." It is a pun, but also a promise. In a world that profits from keeping us unmoored, the Bound Town Project offers an anchor. If you are interested in applying the Bound Town Project model to your region, contact the Commons Law Center or the Historic Stewardship Alliance for pro-bono legal templates and mapping software. The ground is waiting. It is time to bind it. Using the Bound Town Project framework, the residents