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So far CCLBA has created 86 blog entries.

Cook County Land Bank Partners with Local Developer to Transform Vacant Building into Vibrant Dance Studio, Salon and Homes

If you go to the grey stone building at 7240 S. Wentworth Ave. today, you’ll see people leaping, spinning, and shaking off the stress of the day at En Pointe Dance Productions. Next to the studio, you’ll see people coming out of a beauty salon, looking and feeling their best after getting a haircut or a new style. It’s hard to believe that the building was on the brink of demolition just two years ago, before being rescued by the Cook County Land Bank Authority. The vacant, two-story building in Greater Grand Crossing had been tax delinquent for years and [...]

By | 2021-04-14T16:00:53+00:00 April 14th, 2021|Stories of Impact|Comments Off on Cook County Land Bank Partners with Local Developer to Transform Vacant Building into Vibrant Dance Studio, Salon and Homes

A West Side Fashion Brand Almost Lost Its Store Because Of The Landlord’s Unpaid Taxes — So It Bought The Building

By Pascal Sabino, Block Club Chicago  |  April 7th, 2021   (Click here for Original Article) GARFIELD PARK — The owners of a West Side clothing brand were thrilled to finally open a brick-and-mortar store in 2018 after five years in business. But the brand has faced challenges since then: The entrepreneurs’ dreams were nearly crushed when their landlord’s unpaid property taxes almost forced them to close. In a last-minute twist, the brand ended up being able to buy the property and keep their business. Now, they’re looking forward to many more years on the West Side. The flagship Fort Maner shop opened [...]

By | 2021-04-12T16:23:40+00:00 April 12th, 2021|News Articles, News articles on CCLBA|Comments Off on A West Side Fashion Brand Almost Lost Its Store Because Of The Landlord’s Unpaid Taxes — So It Bought The Building

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Other Officials Call On State To Pass Plan To Reduce Vacant Properties

CBS Chicago  |  April 10th, 2021   (Click here for video of the event) CHICAGO — Declaring it time to put an end to a system that perpetuates redlining and the growth of vacant properties, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced she is joining the Cook County Land Bank Authority, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, and Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer in calling for reform of the Cook County Scavenger Sale, a limit on interest rates charged to homeowners under a county lien, and a new strategic plan to recover and revitalize blighted communities.  “The county has a responsibility [...]

By | 2021-04-12T12:54:28+00:00 April 12th, 2021|News Articles, News articles on CCLBA|Comments Off on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Other Officials Call On State To Pass Plan To Reduce Vacant Properties

Superhero Collective Ready to Give Away Home to Family Impacted by Cancer in Evergreen Park

Nonprofit and the Cook County Land Bank Authority turn abandoned property into family home March 22, 2021 (Chicago, Ill.)— Known for bringing smiles to children in the hospital with long-term health issues, the Superhero Collective will soon bring joy to a family impacted by a serious illness. With the help of the Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA), the Superhero Collective is giving away a renovated, abandoned house in Evergreen Park, Ill. to the family of a child struggling with serious health problems. Throughout the year, Tim Brigham of the Superhero Collective dresses in movie-quality superhero costumes and cheers on [...]

By | 2021-03-31T13:14:01+00:00 March 31st, 2021|Stories of Impact|Comments Off on Superhero Collective Ready to Give Away Home to Family Impacted by Cancer in Evergreen Park

Health Center, Child Care, Affordable Homes Planned To Bring ‘Opportunities For Economic Growth’ To West Side

By Pascal Sabino, Block Club Chicago  |  February 18th, 2021   (Click here for Original Article) AUSTIN — Neighborhood groups want to transform vacant lots on the West Side into community facilities that will provide housing, health and career services for children and families. The project is part of the ASPIRE Initiative, an effort to invest in local assets so Austin residents of all ages will have access to education and economic opportunities. The initiative, which aims to create a cradle-to-career pipeline in the area, implements several of the strategies outlined in the Austin Quality-of-Life Plan for achieving resident-driven improvements to the [...]

By | 2021-03-03T10:04:28+00:00 March 3rd, 2021|News Articles, News articles on CCLBA|Comments Off on Health Center, Child Care, Affordable Homes Planned To Bring ‘Opportunities For Economic Growth’ To West Side

After Two Years Of Work, Englewood Leaders Unveiling First ‘Buy The Block’ Renovated Home In Community Reveal

By Jamie Nesbitt Golden, Block Club Chicago  |  December 23rd, 2020   (Click here for Original Article) Englewood neighbors can get a first look at a new house this weekend, the product of a community initiative seeking to help more residents become homeowners. The virtual community reveal is 10:30 a.m.-noon Sunday. The red brick two-flat at 6219 S. Bishop Ave. is a two-year-long “buy the block” renovation project spearheaded by the Englewood Development Group, a collective formed by R.A.G.E. Founder Asiaha Butler and E.G. Woode’s Deon Lucas. Potential buyers would have to live in the home, which will go on the market for $199,000. In [...]

By | 2021-01-13T16:18:51+00:00 January 13th, 2021|News Articles, News articles on CCLBA|Comments Off on After Two Years Of Work, Englewood Leaders Unveiling First ‘Buy The Block’ Renovated Home In Community Reveal

Animal Care League Expands Shelter for Homeless Animals with Building Purchase

By Stacey Sheridan, The Wednesday Journal of Oak Park  |  October 5th, 2020   (Click here for Original Article) After over 10 arduous years of trying, the Animal Care League (ACL) has successfully purchased the dilapidated building at 1009 Garfield St., which sits directly between three other ACL-owned properties. Once renovated, the building will serve as an extension of the ACL's animal adoption and care services. "It'll be a part of our whole operation," said Chatka Ruggiero, longtime ACL board member, who was instrumental in the purchasing process. ACL will join the fourth building to the others by constructing a covered [...]

By | 2020-12-11T12:36:38+00:00 November 5th, 2020|News Articles, News articles on CCLBA|Comments Off on Animal Care League Expands Shelter for Homeless Animals with Building Purchase

Michael and Alissa Bolz of Lansing

Their rehab of a house next-door restored their property value Michael and Alissa Bolz of Lansing, Ill. used to live next door to a run-down, vacant property that was formerly owned by Michael’s grandfather. That property, vacant for two years, was eroding the value of their current home at the time—a home that was built by Michael’s grandfather in the late 1950s. So the Bolzes decided to do something about it.  In 2016, they decided they would try to purchase that home, fix it up and live in it. They submitted a bid for the house through the Cook County [...]

By | 2021-03-03T09:59:19+00:00 September 21st, 2020|Stories of Impact|Comments Off on Michael and Alissa Bolz of Lansing

Keya Banks, Harvey Resident

Rebuilding her life in a house that is her “castle” Keya Banks said her family and friends thought she was off her rocker when she decided to purchase a vacant home in Harvey, a town that’s known for depressed home values. But when Keya saw her home, she had a vision. “When I saw this house, I said this is it. This is a castle for a queen,” said Banks, who had previously rented a condo in Oak Forest after going through a divorce. “I decided that I didn’t need to be defined by my zip code. The house itself [...]

By | 2020-09-22T10:38:56+00:00 September 21st, 2020|Stories of Impact|Comments Off on Keya Banks, Harvey Resident

Jose Luis Lopez of Hermosa of Chicago

The Land Bank made homeownership near Lopez’s childhood neighborhood affordable Jose Luis Lopez wanted to live in the Hermosa neighborhood, where he was raised.  But the home prices are high, and that made it hard for him to get a bank loan. “Because I am self- employed, it’s complicated to get lending at a high price point,” said Lopez, who has his own home inspection business. Lopez learned about the Cook County Land Bank Authority’s Homebuyer Direct Program, which sells vacant homes to homebuyers at below-market rates, as long as they rehab the property and then live in the home. [...]

By | 2020-09-21T14:52:43+00:00 September 21st, 2020|Stories of Impact|Comments Off on Jose Luis Lopez of Hermosa of Chicago
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