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ChiBlockBuilder applications are now open for select City-owned vacant lots!
More than 400 parcels of vacant land are being made available April 1 by the City of Chicago for purchase and redevelopment, including 54 lots being offered for Missing Middle housing on the Far South Side, a .4-acre CTA site being offered for mixed-income housing in Lake View, and more than nine acres of industrial land for mixed-uses in Armour Square and New City.
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:
DPD uses Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Request for Qualifications (RFQs) to encourage the development of potential opportunity sites across the city.
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.
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.
Property that is intended for the development of housing that will be affordable to households at up to 140% of area median income (AMI).
A side yard is a fenced yard directly adjacent to a neighbor’s home and can be used for any purpose allowed by zoning.
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.
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.
Public notices inform the public of the transfer or sale of property to other government entities, sales supported by federal tax credits, for utility improvements, and sales to entities that support improvements limited to the ability for the purchaser to provide.
All ChiBlockBuilder application submissions are subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
The City reserves the right, at any time and in its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any or all submissions, or to withdraw the land sale application request without notice. In no event shall the City be liable to respondents for any cost or damages incurred by respondents, team members, consultants, or other interested parties in connection with the land sales process, including but not limited to any and all costs of preparing the preliminary cost budget or other submitted materials, and participation in any conferences, oral presentations or negotiations.
