- Published: Monday, March 01, 2021 01:15 PM
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham has introduced legislation making it easier for local governments to sell or lease city-owned vacant lots to not-for-profit groups that want to start urban farms and community gardens.
“Making it easier to turn vacant lots into small-scale urban farms or community gardens solves several problems at once,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “It repurposes city-owned lots that are sitting vacant. It helps increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables. And, because this program would be targeted at not-for-profit groups, it helps increase community involvement and create new volunteer opportunities.”
The legislation specifically allows local governments to grant leases of up to 50 years (with 25-year renewals possible) or to sell vacant tracts of land for less than they would normally cost, providing the land continues to be used to grow food and provide recreation opportunities.