COOK COUNTY LAND BANK HOLDS DEED TRANSFER CEREMONY FOR VACANT LOT GIVEAWAY RECIPIENTS IN ENGLEWOOD

CCLBA
CCLBA

 COOK COUNTY LAND BANK HOLDS DEED
TRANSFER CEREMONY FOR VACANT LOT
GIVEAWAY RECIPIENTS IN ENGLEWOOD

CHICAGO—The Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) completed the handover of deeds to 12 vacant
lots to the nine recipients of last year’s Juneteenth land giveaway. Held in partnership with the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.), the giveaway of vacant side lots and today’s deed
ceremony will lead to the development of these lots for valuable community uses. CCLBA also donated three lots to local nonprofit Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). The deed event was held at Go Green Community Fresh Market, a grocery store in the neighborhood across the street from lots donated
to IMAN.

“The Cook County Land Bank was created to combat blight in communities like Englewood that have historically faced disinvestment,” said Cook County
Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Events like today’s deed transfer ceremony are a reminder that reimagining
land for community use is a key tool to fighting inequity in our county.”

“It’s thrilling to hand these deeds to the recipients of our land giveaway because they are deeply in touch with the
needs of the community,” said CCLBA Executive Director Jessica Caffrey. “With this donated land, these organizations and resident can help build assets
that will provide meaningful spaces for community members to gather, host new initiatives and build the future.”

“Homeownership is the cornerstone of Chicago neighborhoods. For too long, redlining, contract buying and the Scavenger Sale stole that promise. The Land
Bank exists to level the playing field,” said Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Chair of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. “Today’s transfer of deeds marks an important milestone for Englewood, and its impact will last for generations to come.”

The original giveaway event was hosted by R.A.G.E. and CCLBA at a summer block party on Juneteenth 2022.
In addition to the giveaway, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Lowe’s donated distributed gardening supplies, compost and giveaways to the
recipients and those in attendance.

“It’s amazing to see our Juneteenth event come full circle,” said Asiaha Butler, co-founder and CEO of R.A.G.E. “I can’t
wait to see the projects these residents and
organizations complete on their newly owned land as they envision the beauty and meaning these properties can hold.”

IMAN has already begun developing the land it received in the giveaway into spaces for youth engagement and the arts. Its lots on W. 63rd St. have hosted Da Lynx, a pop-up arts and culture spot featuring local vendors, a meditation oasis, creative exhibitions, a half basketball court and regular artistic performances.

“Receiving this land from the Cook County Land Bank Authority has been a game changer that allows us to further invest in and commit to development of
our community here in Englewood,” said Rami Nashashibi, Executive Director of IMAN. “This land will be a safe space for youth and families from the neighborhood to come together and experience arts and
culture.”

The Cook County Land Bank Authority, an independent agency of Cook County, was founded by the Cook
County Board of Commissioners in 2013 to address residents and communities hit hard by the mortgage crisis. CCLBA gives local developers, community groups and potential homeowners the tools to transform
their own communities from within. The Land Bank acquires properties that have sat tax‐delinquent, abandoned and vacant for years and sells them at below market rates to qualified community‐based developers, who then rehab the properties. This approach not only keeps revenue and jobs in the community, but it also helps local developers grow their businesses. Learn more about the Cook County Land
Bank Authority at http://www.cookcountylandbank.
org.

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