ChiBlockBuilder Home
The application portal to purchase select City-owned vacant lots is now open.
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ChiBlockBuilder is the City of Chicago’s application portal to encourage the purchase and redevelopment of City-owned vacant land in partnership with community stakeholders. Led by the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD), ChiBlockBuilder is a universal application process for all of the City's land sale programs, streamlining the purchase of City-owned properties across the South and West sides and increasing transparency.
The ChiBlockBuilder website features an interactive online map to provide potential buyers with important information about City-owned vacant land such as environmental clearances, zoning, square footage, and market value.
Need help? Contact the ChiBlockBuilder Team!
Assistance is also available in English and Spanish by phone at (312) 744-LAND, and by email at landsales@cityofchicago.org.
ChiBlockBuilder eligible uses for land include:
Affordable Housing
Property that is intended for the development of housing that will be affordable to households at up to 140% of area median income (AMI).
Market Rate
A property intended to house a business, such as a store, restaurant, office or social or cultural service. This includes mixed-used buildings, which have both commercial space and housing.
Missing Middle
The Missing Middle-Density Housing Initiative is a neighborhood repopulation strategy that is leveraging City land and financing for contemporary home construction on behalf of market rate buyers.
Side Yard
A side yard is a fenced yard directly adjacent to a neighbor’s home and can be used for any purpose allowed by zoning.
Open Space
Property sold to be used as open space that is fenced and managed by a resident, group of residents, non-profit organization, or business for local neighborhood activities.
Urban Agriculture
Property sold to be used as urban agriculture that is fenced and managed by local growers. Sites are licensed by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
