Under an ordinance to be introduced this month by aldermen, city funds may be used to help build new housing on vacant lots sprawled throughout Chicago.
Under an ordinance to be introduced this month by aldermen, city funds may be used to help build new housing on vacant lots sprawled throughout Chicago. Decades ago on the South Side, the 3rd Ward experienced divestment and redlining in the housing market which led to city demolition of dilapidated buildings, leaving behind thousands of city-owned vacant lots, according to Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd). While her ward has seen a decrease in vacant lots, it still remains among those with a high inventory. As of May 5, the 3rd Ward has at least 800 city-owned vacant lots, according to the city’s Dept. of Community Development. As of May 5, there were approximately 15,000 city-owned vacant lots, including some with vacant property housed on them, according to Susan Massel, a spokesperson for the department. “Our office has been working to promote new housing and commercial development on some of the city-owned lots. Before the credit and housing markets tanked, we were on track to build 100 new affordable and market-rate homes in the ward, and there were few commercial development projects percolating. The housing construction visible on State Street is being done under the CHA’s Transformation Plan and a 71-unit senior development is being constructed on city-owned land at 53rd and Calumet,” Dowell told the Defender. Under the “Sweet Home Chicago” ordinance –– backed by 22 aldermen –– the city would devote 20 percent of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds for affordable residential development, including the rehabilitation of foreclosed homes and multi-family apartment buildings in many neighborhoods. The City Council’s Finance and Housing committees will consider the ordinance at a July 7 hearing, said Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) “We need four more aldermen to sign on to make this work,” Burnett, the ordinance’s lead sponsor, said at a recent rally near a vacant lot in the 1300 block of South Kedvale Avenue in Lawndale. The lot sits in Ald. Sharon Dixon’s (24th) ward, which has nearly 700 vacant lots. Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th), whose South Side ward includes a portion of Englewood, said housing is the best choice for the undeveloped land in her ward. She’s hoping the ordinance would pave the way to reduce the roughly 200 vacant lots in her ward. “We need more affordable housing choices for our residents. I can’t see any other option but to use them for homes,” said Foulkes. Colleague Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th), who also has a portion of Englewood in her ward, echoed Foulkes sentiments. “I’d like to build more residences in my community. Right now, the economy is in such a down state, the developers aren’t looking. This economy has slowed down many options,” said Thomas, whose ward has at least 250 vacant lots. While residential development is key on unused land owned by the city, some aldermen would also like to the expansion of parks, more businesses and community gardens on the lots. In the 20th Ward, led by Ald. Willie Cochran, a several parks such as Hansberry Park, 5635 S. Indiana, that are adjacent to a city-owned vacant lot, will be expanded, he said, adding, “we’ll also have some community gardens.” Cochran’s ward has roughly 650 city-owned vacant lots. Dowell is working with a few community groups and smaller resident groups to turn some of the lots into community gardens. “Also, this summer we will be rolling out a series of historical billboards being crafted by the Chicago Blues Museum to be constructed throughout the ward on several city-owned lots,” she said. Thomas said the lots could also be used for more Black-owned businesses in her ward.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
Photo Caption: City-owned vacant lot in the 4300 block of South King Drive. (Defender/Kathy Chaney)
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