Chicago Hts. buying up lots to boost blighted area

Chicago Heights is acquiring 200 vacant lots on its blighted east side and will negotiate with developers to build single-family housing there.

It is the city's first attempt to redevelop the area after years of demolishing houses, officials said. The city holds its first public meeting on the subject at 7 p.m. today at City Hall.

Mayor Angelo Ciambrone and Ald. Kevin Perkins (3rd) have been on opposite sides of most issues since they were elected in 1995, but they agree that the city can help the east side, though they don't agree on exactly how. The area, east of East End Avenue, west of State Street, south of Joe Orr Road and north of 17th Street, has been hard hit by factory closings and other economic problems. Many buildings have been abandoned or have deteriorated. The city has been quietly acquiring vacant property since Ciambrone took office, in the hope it can guide redevelopment. 

Chicago Heights also has bought scores of properties in the area just south of the east side, an area known as the Hill, and is seeking development ideas for that section as well. "We've got this opportunity now and things are beginning to happen. What we need now is some input from the public before irrevocable decisions are made," mayoral aide Dominic Candeloro said. "Do we want subsidized housing? What will the final price tag (on houses) be? Who chooses the developer and what are the guidelines?" "I'm hoping revitalization actually will help those (who) are in need of safe and affordable housing," Perkins said.

 "In the past, these types of efforts have hurt people in low- to medium-income communities by displacing them." Perkins said homes should be priced so people with incomes around $44,000 could afford them. He said he hopes for "a variety" of prices, but "not too many homes for $100,000" or more