Cook County Land Bank Authority

2,500 redeveloped properties is an immense milestone. But what does it look like on the ground?

Take a tour with developer Luis Castro of USA Roofing Supply, who turned six vacant CCLBA lots on one block in Garfield Park into six multifamily buildings for new generations of families, renters, and homeowners.

Congratulations and thank you to every developer, partner, and community that has been part of this journey!

In 2022, Dr. Marlon Haywood of Urban Male Network received a vacant lot in Englewood – on the block where he grew up – and transformed it into Annie May Patterson Court, a basketball court honoring his grandmother, who lived in the community for over 70 years.

With the CCLBA and R.A.G.E - Resident Association of Greater Englewood, Dr. Haywood turned that land into a safe space for youth and families — complete with a dedicated mural and a street named in her honor.

In September 2025, Dr. Haywood opened the Urban Male Network Empowerment Center on another former CCLBA parcel in Englewood — continuing to turn vacant property into opportunity on the South Side.

This is what it looks like when land comes home. Happy Juneteenth!

This is what showing up looks like. 🏡💚

Meet Herbert Houston, a facilities manager at By The Hand Club For Kids and lifelong West Sider who showed up to volunteer on one of eight new affordable homes being built in Austin on land provided by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.

For Herb, this wasn't just a volunteer day — it was personal. Building in his own community, on lots that were once vacant, for families who now have a path to homeownership. That's what this work is all about.

Thank you to Herb, every volunteer, By The Hand Club For Kids, and Habitat for Humanity Chicago for showing up and showing out for Austin. 🙌

June is , and it’s at the heart of what we do at the Land Bank. 💚🏡

Every parcel we sell, every vacant lot transformed, and every family that unlocks their door for the first time is a reminder of why we do this work. We’re proud to help make the dream of homeownership a reality. Through our Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program funded through Cook County Government Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s Equity Fund alone, we've helped 120 families unlock the door to homeownership across Cook County.

We remain committed to turning vacant properties into vibrant places people are proud to call home.

Block by block, we've been unlocking the future of Cook County, returning vacant land and neglected properties to families, developers, and neighborhoods.

We recently marked the 2,500th property transformation. Congratulations to Luis Castro, CEO of USA Roofing Supply, the developer transforming not one but six vacant lots into new construction multi-family buildings on a single block in Garfield Park.

Cook County Government, President Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman Walter Red Burnett, Commissioner Tara Stamps, Commissioner Michael Scott, Jr., Village of Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, Anthony Simpkins of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Stacie Young of Community Investment Corporation

We loved connecting with community developers, neighbors, and business owners at our recent Working with the Cook County Land Bank Authority seminar at the UIC Student Center!

A special thank you to Commissioner Michael Scott, Jr., Commissioner Marlene Hopkins, Sheryl Stewart-Caldwell of the Cook County Government Bureau of Economic Development, Manny Flores of SomerCor, Aloni Harris C3 Impact Fund, Chaston Montgomery of Community Investment Corporation, and James A. Norris of Chicago Community Loan Fund for joining us!

Missed this seminar but ready to get your next project started? Visit our website to discover available properties. https://bit.ly/4uOseiT