Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced more than 3,200 vacant City-owned lots on Chicago’s South and West Sides are now available for purchase for $1. The lots are available through the seventh round of Chicago’s Large Lots program, which was created in 2015 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Five-Year Housing Plan. Since its launch more than 1,240 lots have been sold through the program.

“We are transforming vacant lots into community assets and building a new Chicago block by block, and neighborhood by neighborhood,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Empowering residents to invest and develop in their own communities will make neighborhoods across Chicago even better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Eligible Chicago property owners interested in purchasing a lot can submit applications through July 2 by visiting LargeLots.org. Up to two parcels are available per applicant and each parcel is sold “as-is” via a quit claim deed.

Participating community areas include:

• Auburn Gresham
• Austin
• Avalon Park
• Burnside
• Calumet Heights
• Chatham
• Chicago Lawn
• East Garfield Park
• East Side
• Englewood
• Gage Park
• Greater Grand Crossing
• Hegewisch
• Humboldt Park
• Morgan Park
• New City
• North Lawndale
• Pullman
• Riverdale
• Roseland
• South Chicago
• South Deering
• Washington Heights
• West Englewood
• West Garfield Park
• West Pullman

To qualify as a buyer, an applicant must own property on the same block and have no outstanding debts to the City, such as parking tickets or water bills, among other requirements. City lots proposed for purchase must be vacant and have residential (R) zoning. The lots were acquired by the City primarily through property tax and demolition liens.
“With the continuing expansion of the Large Lots program in local neighborhoods, an increasing number of property owners are helping to rebuild their communities one lot at a time,” Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman said.

Ongoing surveys of Large Lots buyers by the U.S. Forest Service and University of Illinois indicate that most properties are purchased to help improve property aesthetics, to create new social spaces for family and friends, and to grow flowers and vegetables. Buyers also report more community cohesion, more social interaction and quieter and safer streets through the program.
Application assistance is available during business hours at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 1101.

Applications and additional information are available at www.LargeLots.org.

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