The City Council approved the sale of a city-owned parcel at 629 N Parkside Ave to GSJ Family Life Center for the purpose of constructing a fenced community garden. The sale was executed under the ChiBlockBuilder platform, an initiative aimed at repurposing vacant and underutilized land across Chicago. Sponsored by Mayor Brandon Johnson, this ordinance enables a local nonprofit to activate the parcel for community-serving open space. The development will provide access to healthy food, outdoor gathering space, and environmental benefits in the Austin neighborhood.
The land sale enables the creation of a community garden that promotes health, sustainability, and neighborhood cohesion. It supports equitable land reuse under the City’s ChiBlockBuilder program.