Sixty-nine City-owned vacant lots in Austin will be sold through the “Large Lots” program under a plan approved today by City Council.

The lots were offered for sale in December 2014 and January 2015 through the third phase of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Large Lots program, which makes City-owned, vacant residential lots available to local property owners for $1 each. More than 120 applications were received for about 250 available lots in Austin.

The properties will be sold “as-is” via a quit claim deed. The lots were acquired mostly through property tax and demolition liens. Most of the lots are being planned as side yards, community gardens or landscaped open space.

The Large Lots program began last year in the greater Englewood and East Garfield Park communities, where more than 430 lots have been sold to date. Eight additional lots in East Garfield Park will be included for approval with the Austin properties.

The Large Lots program is part of the City’s “Five Year Housing Plan,” which aims to invest $1.3 million to create, improve, and preserve 41,000 units of housing. Applicants are required to own property on the same block, be current on their property taxes and have no outstanding debt to the city, among other requirements. Up to two lots are available per application.

For more information, visit LargeLots.org.

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