Chicago is piloting a new program aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods significantly impacted by the economic downturn a few years ago. They are selling vacant lots for just $1. The only catch is that you already have to own a house in the neighborhood. During the recession, apparently the city acquired quite a few lots and houses. Many of the houses were torn down, and now, empty overgrown lots that the city is supposed to maintain, but can’t are becoming eye sores in neighborhoods. The city’s solution is to sell them to residents for $1 so that they can turn them into green spaces, gardens, etc., in hopes that they will have an invested interest in maintaining them. {You can read more about the details HERE}.
I think this idea is pretty darn cool. I mean, a buck isn’t a huge investment for a little green space {HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT}. And, it gives the peeps a little ownership over the direction they would like to see their neighborhoods develop–adding a bit to the overall community feel. One resident plans to use her space for public art, concrete chess tables, BBQ space, and a dog park. She hopes that it will give people in the community a safe place to gather. She’s already used one of her lots as a community garden, which is where my mind obviously first went.
How cool would it be to get to design your own little neighborhood park…or whatever? What would you do with your $1 lot?
~Mavis
Rosaleen says
The green space, place to gather, and community garden idea sounds awesome. Living in Taxachusetts, though, one would do well to find out what the property taxes would be. Ours are more per quarter than some of my friends in other states pay for a full year. It would be a shame to overstretch one’s means trying to do some public good. Worse yet would be if the city went after one’s home for unpaid taxes on a second property.
Sue Morgan says
LOVE the idea, and I would definitely do a Community Garden! Rosaleen brings up an excellent point though. The property taxes. What a shame it would be for someone to get one of these lots for $1, only to discover that the property taxes were astronomical. Mavis, can you, or someone find out what the bottom line is on these? I still love the concept of this, to help revitalize and restore abandoned/dilapitaded neighborhoods.
Sue Morgan says
I’m thinking, if property taxes are affordable, this would be awesome also for Detroit, and New Orleans.
Sue says
I’m curious about the legal issues too — not just property tax, but liability, at least for the people who choose to turn their lot into community space. I actually own the vacant lot next door to my house, and I have several ideas of what to do with it, but anything that welcomes the public (which most of my ideas would — community garden, tool library, etc) makes me wonder and worry about the liability issues. I would love to find a contact person for the Chicago program so I could ask them these questions, or maybe your readers know the answers.
Sue
Stacey says
I absolutely love this idea, and wish this was done in more communities, even those who aren’t already becoming eyesores. Just thinking about what I could do with a lot of my own fills me with excitement. I’m thinking outdoor seating space, with benches, a sandbox for kids to play, and of course, fill in the spaces with flowers and food plants.
Jenny says
I had a sandbox when I was a kid, but the neighborhood cats used it as their toilet.
Samantha says
We have a similar program in Baltimore, called “Power in Dirt”. You lease the property from the city, paying only about $250 in fees for water usage, and you can do whatever you want with the space. So long as you don’t erect any permanent structures you can do just about anything. In the last couple of years it has really made a difference (that I have noticed).