McKinney, Texas is moving forward with a plan to build 20 affordable townhomes on city-owned land, using a financing structure designed to keep the homes within reach of working families not just now, but permanently.

The McKinney Housing Finance Corporation is looking for a developer experienced with community land trusts, a model in which a nonprofit retains ownership of the land while residents own their homes. Because the land is never sold, resale prices stay affordable over time instead of climbing with the surrounding market. The approach has gained traction in fast-growing cities struggling to preserve affordability as property values rise.

McKinney fits that profile. The city sits in Collin County north of Dallas and has been among the fastest-growing cities in the country for years. Median home prices have climbed sharply, putting homeownership out of reach for many of the service workers, teachers and first responders who keep the city running.

The planned development would include attached single-family townhomes alongside two small pocket parks, giving residents shared green space within the community. The corporation already holds the property where the homes would be built.

The community land trust model is still relatively rare in Texas, though cities like Austin and Houston have explored similar approaches amid surging housing costs statewide. McKinney's effort signals growing interest in permanent affordability tools at the local level, rather than subsidies that expire after a set number of years.

The housing finance corporation has posted its developer search on the Bonfire procurement platform. Once a developer is selected and a partnership structure is finalized, the timeline for construction will come into clearer focus.