Preserving Property and Prosperity Conference

The Preserving Property and Prosperity Conference is an annual event organized by Boston College Law School's Initiative on Land, Housing, & Property Rights (ILHPR). The 2025 conference, held on June 12-13, convened over 120 scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with more than 300 additional participants joining remotely via Zoom. The ILHPR, founded and directed by Professor Thomas W. Mitchell, focuses on addressing issues related to heirs' property and the preservation of affordable housing.

The conference explored policy, law reform, direct services, and community engagement work aimed at transforming heirs' property ownership from a tangled, highly unstable form of ownership into one that can be sustainable and productive. A key panel focused on the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA), a model state statute for which Professor Mitchell is the principal drafter. As of the conference date, the UPHPA had been adopted by twenty-five states and other jurisdictions, including seven of the largest ten U.S. states, covering more than two-thirds of the nation's population.

Attendees had opportunities to engage in discussions on the intersection of housing and heirs' property, with sessions dedicated to policy, law reform, and community engagement strategies. Notable speakers included Professor Thomas W. Mitchell and Jane Sternecky, legislative counsel for the Uniform Law Commission, who shared insights on the progress and impact of the UPHPA across various states.

This conference is particularly relevant for legal professionals, policymakers, scholars, and community advocates interested in property rights, housing policy, and social justice. Participants gain valuable insights into the challenges and solutions related to heirs' property and affordable housing, contributing to efforts aimed at preserving intergenerational wealth and addressing the racial wealth gap in the United States.