Chicago Construction News staff writer
The City of Chicago is making more than 400 vacant land parcels available for purchase and redevelopment, focusing on affordable housing, mixed-use developments, and neighborhood revitalization.
The properties are collectively valued at $26 million. Developers interested in learning more about the available properties and submitting applications can visit ChiBlockBuilder.com.
Among the properties available are 54 lots designated for missing middle housing on the Far South Side, a CTA-owned parcel in Lakeview for mixed-income housing, and more than nine acres of industrial land in Armour Square and New City for mixed-use development.
“Supporting the redevelopment of these sites is how we all build better together,” Johnson said. “Particularly during Fair Housing Month, we need to continue leveraging all of our tools to spur development and build affordable housing across our city.” He also highlighted efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape and foster coordination between public and private sectors to encourage growth.
The missing middle housing initiative, part of a broader department of planning and development (DPD) initiative launched last year in North Lawndale. The 54 city-owned properties, offered in 11 separate clusters in Morgan Park, Chatham, and South Chicago, will be sold for the development of one- to six-unit, market-rate residential buildings. Financial assistance of up to $150,000 per unit, along with $1 lot sales, will be available. Applications for these properties are due by May 15, 2025.
The CTA site at 3214-54 N. Wilton Ave., located adjacent to the Belmont Avenue transit station, is being offered for mixed-income housing development. The site, valued at $4.3 million, will require that at least 40% of future units be affordable for tenants earning 30% to 60% of the area median income. Developers can apply through ChiBlockBuilder by June 30 for potential discounted purchase prices and donation tax credits. Proposals can also seek Low-Income Housing Tax Credits through the Department of Housing’s 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).
Two significant industrial properties are also available for redevelopment. A .46-acre parcel at 466 W. Cermak Rd., located in the Pilsen Industrial Corridor, is zoned for commercial, industrial, and other uses and is valued at $1.16 million. The second, an 8.2-acre site at 1924 W. 46th St. within the Stockyards Industrial Corridor, is valued at $3.3 million and is zoned for business services, urban farms, manufacturing, and more. Applications for these sites are due by June 30.
In addition to these properties, close to 350 other lots across the city are available for commercial, residential, mixed-use construction, and urban agriculture. These vacant lots can be purchased for side yards, open space, or community-based projects. Applications for these parcels are due by May 16 or June 30, depending on the site.
“These neighborhood investment opportunities are part of the city’s holistic approach to neighborhood needs,” said DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright. “It’s exciting to return these lands to productive uses by the private sector, where they belong.”
