In a move to spark development in multiple neighborhoods, the City of Chicago has placed more than 350 lots on the market for would-be developers and residents looking to expand their homesteads. Ciere Boatright, the Department of Planning and Development Commissioner, announced the availability of these properties through the ChiBlockBuilder application portal, starting on April 1.
The land up for grabs isn't just for residential tranquility; it's also prime real estate for commercial hustle and bustle - shovel-ready for businesses, builders, and neighbors looking to spread out. A jewel in the crown are properties like the six clustered lots totaling 4.6 acres at Oakwood Boulevard & Lake Park Avenue, which offer a chance for a blend of housing and street-level shops or eateries. Another opportunity awaits at 2301 E. 75th St. in the South Shore, a transit-served property ripe for retail or mixed-use aspirations.
Looking at the industrial canvas, New City offers up 6.9- and 8.2-acre sites at 4512 S. Halsted St. and 1924 W. 46th St., respectively – all within the busy bounds of the Stockyards Industrial Corridor. Meanwhile, Auburn Gresham proposes a 1.1-acre lot along the arterial glory of Halsted Street, serving up nearly a block's worth of potential retail or mixed-use marvels.
Among the offerings is a 26,066-square-foot lot at 449-51 E. 47th St. in Grand Boulevard, ready for transit-oriented development with a retail focus. Englewood ups the ante with a 1.1-acre site at 6537 S. Union Ave., the community's preference angled towards residential developments that support individuals with special needs and include a medical clinic onsite. The Department of Housing chimes in with their own contribution, providing 145 lots through the City Lots for Working Families (CL4WF) program, contingent on developers adhering to affordable housing guidelines and catering to buyers at 140 percent of area median income.
This initiative taps into a sizable inventory of approximately 9,500 city-owned lots – a remnant of foreclosures and the economic ebbs and flows dating back decades. However, it's more than a numbers game; the City's strategic sell-off of about 2,000 vacant lots in the past decade through programs like ChiBlockBuilder is a testament to its commitment towards community redevelopment and private ownership. With applications open for 45 or 90 days depending on the location, and an April 30 webinar on the horizon for one of the sites, prospects seem ripe for a transformative urban renewal unique to the City's diverse tapestry of neighborhoods.
