She estimated it would need about $15 million in seed money over three years, which could come from grants and Illinois’ share of a financial settlement for mortgage fraud. At least the robo-signing banks would be paying to clean up their mess.

Gainer said most land banks elsewhere are self-sustaining on money from rentals and property sales. She cited particular success in Flint, Mich.’s Genesee County and Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County. More information is at BridgetGainer.com.

FRANKLIN FODDER: Last month, I wrote about the Crown family and their development partners, Tishman Speyer Properties, pushing plans for an office building at the large vacant site at 130 N. Franklin. Since then, I’ve learned a couple of things.

One is that I have a rendering of the project by Krueck and Sexton Architects, the firm that designed the Spertus Institute on Michigan Avenue. The sharply angled glass of the Franklin Street project looks a lot like the Spertus building, so perhaps the Crowns should ask for more originality for their money.

I earlier spoke with family patriarch Lester Crown, who emphasized that tenants for the project are probably a long way off. Crown also voiced no regret for tearing down the old Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which sat on part of the property. The razing incurred the wrath of preservationists. Crown said he had to tear it down fast before the city landmarked the building, which he said would have been a mistake. “It was an inefficient use for the site,” he said.

NO NO NATO: For all the promises about the NATO Summit being a long-term boon to Chicago business, it was a short-term drag on it, judging from information gleaned from hotels and restaurants. Standard Parking Corp., the largest operator of parking garages in and near downtown, also took a hit.

Executive Vice President Steven Warshauer said that for Friday through Monday, Standard’s garages saw a 35 percent to 70 percent decline in business from a typical period. For Standard’s hotel garages, business was off an average 39 percent because NATO delegations didn’t need to park cars and other customers avoided downtown, he said. But Warshauer said he hopes Chicago’s exposure from NATO will pay eventual dividends.

STICKING AROUND: As the former ShoreBank and under its current name, Urban Partnership Bank has long operated from 7054 S. Jeffery. But its continuation there became uncertain after ShoreBank’s failure led to the property being controlled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which put it up for sale.

Urban Partnership has announced its purchase of the site, offering the deal as evidence that it will remain in South Shore to practice its model of community banking.

DOING THE DEALS: In a sure sign that business is jumping, Missner Group built a 50,000-square-foot trampoline center for Jump America at 880 Lakeside Dr., Gurnee.