Acquiring & Holding Property for Project - Any Best Methods?

[Patrick K.]

I'm a property developer in Kansas (and Missouri).  I just got certified as an approved developer by a Kansas city.  The value of being approved is the city has revealed that they would like to redevelop 4 or 5 city blocks.   The value of being approved is the City will contribute their land bank / City / state (they have some pull) properties on those blocks to redevelopment projects.  

The downside is that to get a project approved on any block means the developer must first have control or acquire the property on the block. Each block has a half dozen or more existing private owners, worth a total of $1 MM to $2 MM... and in Kansas there is no government authority to condemn and seize working private property.

I'm looking for the best way to finance the buying and holding of the properties until we can reach a critical mass for a project.