Christa Stoneham is not just building homes—she’s building legacies.
As president and CEO of the Houston Land Bank (HLB), Stoneham leads with vision and conviction, transforming more than $100 million worth of vacant and underutilized land into affordable housing and vibrant community spaces across the city.
Her mission is clear: To make land serve the people, particularly those long shut out of opportunity.
Receipts
With over 15 years of experience spanning architecture, urban planning, and community development, Stoneham is widely recognized as a trailblazer in equitable land use and sustainable design. During her tenure with the City of Houston, she helped advance $30 million across 600 transformative projects, directly benefiting more than 20,000 residents in 10 neighborhoods.
Now, at HLB, she continues to expand that impact—securing over $5.5 million in federal grants to address environmental challenges and unlocking opportunities for historically marginalized communities.
But for Stoneham, transformation begins from within. Before she could reshape Houston’s neighborhoods, she first had to design a space for herself—a place where authenticity, culture, and purpose could coexist.
Creating a space for herself
Originally from Dublin, California, a suburb outside of Oakland/San Francisco, Stoneham remembers what it felt like to stand out.
“We were probably one of the first Black families in that neighborhood,” she recalls. “I didn’t necessarily feel racism, but I did feel different. I didn’t fit into the traditional suburban neighborhoods—but I didn’t always fit in when I visited my cousins either,” Stoneham recalled. “So, me trying to find my way and find my space ended with me going to Prairie View A&M University.”
At Prairie View, a space surrounded by her people, she found more than a college—she found a calling.
“I ended up in architecture, just off a hunch,” she says. “But when I started to understand the importance of land—literally walking the steps of a former slave plantation—it gave me a different level of honor and responsibility when I’m stepping into spaces.”
That awareness transformed her from student to steward.
“Saying that community development is for me, and wanting to be in real estate—knowing it’s a white male-dominated industry—really reconnected me to that feeling of being the only one. It reminded me of my purpose,” said Stoneham.
Architect skills meet community commitment
Stoneham’s training in architecture gave her both technical mastery and visionary range. Yet, her practice extends far beyond blueprints and building codes.
“I’m a trained architect,” she explains. “That means I have the gift of being able to draw and help create solutions for people who may not even know who’s behind those decisions. I call that the power of the pen—being able to literally draw a doorway or a wall. And I see that same mentality in the work that we do.”
At HLB, she designs both systems and spaces.
“I don’t consider myself an architect in the traditional sense,” shared Stoneham. “I design systems change—leveraging assets, resources, and partnerships to build a strong foundation that can sustain generations to come.”
Real estate roots and family legacy
Stoneham’s connection to land runs deep. Her family’s history of resilience and achievement helped ground her perspective.
“My grandfather was born in Third Ward on Alabama Street,” she shares. “He migrated to San Francisco, became the first Black dentist there, and began to purchase real estate for my family so we could have generational wealth.”
That legacy of self-determination continues to shape her work today.
“As I learned more about our history and how decisions were made to exclude us, I realized the best way to combat hate is with love,” reasoned Stoneham. “You can still be empathetic while being a businessperson. I want to bring human elements back into real estate.”
Proudest HLB accomplishments
Under Stoneham’s leadership, the Houston Land Bank has evolved from a city department into a groundbreaking governmental nonprofit—a model for cities nationwide.
“Becoming a 501(c)(3) is a major milestone,” she notes. “We’re the only organization in Houston that’s both governmental and nonprofit and that serves the entire city limits—and now Harris County.”
Her team also secured the largest Environmental Protection Agency cleanup grant in the region’s history—$5 million dedicated to remediating the land and restoring the community.
“We’ve accelerated how we do our work,” she says. “Now we’re master planning communities, creating catalogs of floor plans that are energy efficient and resilient.”
Yet, her proudest accomplishment is personal.
“Being brave enough to go for this role—being the youngest CEO in the country to lead a land bank—and trusting and betting on myself,” she says. “To lead with humility, knowing I’m making decisions for people who may never even know my name.”
Impact that inspires
Stoneham’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. Her peers and mentors describe her as a visionary with a heart for humanity.
“I’ve watched Christa lead the Houston Land Bank with courage, clarity, and compassion,” says Pastor Rudy Rasmus, founder of Bread of Life, Inc. “She’s building a future where every neighborhood has a place to call home. Under her leadership, vacant lots have become affordable housing and welcoming public spaces for everyone.”
Courtney Johnson Rose, CEO of GEJ Development, echoes that praise.
“Christa is a dedicated champion for affordable housing,” said Johnson Rose, past president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. “Her passion for people and commitment to strengthening communities stand out most.”
Kevin Riles, president of Kevin Riles Commercial and one of her former professors, adds, “A heart for community with the brain of a design artist is a powerful combination. What she’s done at the City of Houston and now at the Land Bank is nothing short of amazing.”
Vision for the future
Stoneham’s next chapter is as bold as her beginnings. She envisions the Houston Land Bank expanding regionally to tackle housing disparities across the Greater Houston area.
“My vision is for the Land Bank to serve as a regional land bank,” she says. “Affordable housing shouldn’t stop at county lines. We’re partnering with cities, counties, and school districts to bring the best solutions to neighborhoods.”
DNVIDEO: Learn more about Christa.
