Team Education
The Land & The Lease
How our "Steward & Host" model protects the mission, secures the land, and makes the business profitable.
The Problem: Why "Owning" is Risky
In traditional development, one company owns everything: the land, the buildings, and the business. This sounds simple, but it's dangerous.
If the business (the hotel) gets sued or goes bankrupt, the land can be seized by the bank. The legacy is lost. The forest is bulldozed. We need a way to make the Land Safe while letting the Business Take Risks.
The "Hardware vs. Software" Analogy
Think of the Land like a computer (Hardware). Think of the Hotel like
an app (Software).
Even if the app crashes or gets deleted, the computer is still
safe on your desk. You can just install a new app. We are separating the Hardware (Land)
from the Software (Business).
Entity A: The Steward (The Hardware)
Who: A Non-Profit Community Land Trust (CLT).
Job: To hold the Deed to the land forever. To protect the forest, the water, and the mission.
Rules: The Steward takes ZERO risk. It has no employees, no loans, and no operations. It simply exists to say: "This land is safe."
Entity B: The Host (The Software)
Who: The Maker's Stay, LLC (For-Profit).
Job: To build the cottages, hire the staff, run the farm, and make money.
The Link: The Host signs a 99-Year Ground Lease with The Steward. This gives the Host the right to use the land as if they owned it, but they pay a small lease fee to the Steward every year.
Key Benefit: Because the Host doesn't have to buy the land (just lease it), it needs millions less in upfront capital. The money can go into building amazing cottages instead of buying dirt.
Why This is Brilliant
1. Forever Protection
No matter what happens to the economy or the business, the Land Trust ensures the property can never be sold to a developer who wants to pave it.
2. Affordable Housing
Because the land cost is removed from the equation, we can sell homes to our staff for 30-40% less than market rate. They buy the house, but lease the land.
3. Investor Safety
Investors put their money into the *Operating Company* (The Host), which generates high yields, without being weighed down by low-yield land equity.
4. Tax Magic
Lease payments are 100% tax-deductible for the business. Land ownership is not.