On Tuesday the Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) released 4,437 parcels of vacant, tax-delinquent lots – the largest one-time release of real estate in county history – and will make the lots available to community-based partners. Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, who also serves as Chairwoman of the Land Bank, announced the release of these lots on Monday at City Club. Most of the 4,437 blighted properties are in areas once home to either bustling industries that suffered as a result of the manufacturing decline or dealt a blow during the foreclosure crisis in Chicago and suburban Cook County. These lots now will have an opportunity to transform communities via partnerships with community-based developers as well as local not-for-profits, block clubs, community organizations, homeowners and others to revitalize and reboot distressed neighborhoods, reduce unnecessary vacancies and fill unique community needs, whether it be community gardens, play lots, basketball courts, open space. The 4,437 new lots will be sold based on size and location. These properties can be found listed online at: http://www.cookcountylandbank.org/tax-delinquent-properties-procedures/. The release of these vacant lots is the first of two releases of CCLBA acquired properties this year. In Spring 2017, CCLBA will release 500 commercial and industrial properties that will be made available to community-based developers.