Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a major expansion of the City’s Large Lots land sale program that will expand it into more than 30 communities across Chicago. The program, which sells vacant City-owned land to nearby homeowners for $1, is expanding to include approximately 4,000 lots on the South and West sides of the city. The Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will begin accepting applications from existing property owners in the eligible areas to purchase up to two City-owned lots for $1 each. The communities include: Auburn Gresham; Austin; Calumet Heights; East Garfield; Englewood; Humboldt Park; North Lawndale; and West Pullman to name a few. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2017, through the LargeLots.org web site.

To qualify as a buyer, an applicant must own property on the same block, be current on their property taxes and have no outstanding debt to the City, such as parking tickets or water bills, among other requirements. Lots proposed for purchase must be owned by the City, be vacant and have residential zoning. Each parcel is sold “as-is” via a quit claim deed. Applications are submitted through the Large Lots web site at www.LargeLots.org. Application assistance is available during business hours at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 1101. For more information visit www.LargeLots.org.