Similar Stories to As North Lawndale Prepares For An Influx Of Development, Residents, Developers Share Excitement, Concerns on Bing News

Ali Ahamad has several ideas for how to turn North Lawndale’s vacant lots from eyesores into neighborhood attractions. He hopes to construct the neighborhood’s first dog park, a playground and a garden next to his property and new homes for community members. He has seen a flurry of development in the neighborhood over the last few years and is waiting to see what the city’s new for-sale housing development program starting early next year brings. The homeowner and landlord, who grew up in North Lawndale and now raises his two kids there, said he wants to participate in the program but will have to remain on the sidelines given the requirements for, and lack of notice about, the initiative, and because his desired city-owned lots are not being offered. “The development should come,” Ahamad said, who lives on a block with at least five vacant lots, only one of which is available for purchase as a part of the new program.