empty double lot next to property - overgrown weeds, vehicles

[Jay Garrison]

Hi,

I just bought a two flat in New City and I like everything about being a live-in landlord so far. The two lots to the north of me are empty, one of them has 4 cars parked in the back near the alley. They guy who owns them lives across the alley, and he doesn't own/manage either vacant lot. I checked on Cook County tax portal, neither belongs to the city. Nor are the owners residents of this block, or even this part of the city.

When I moved in, the lot nearest my building was messy, so I am now paying to have it mown, a couple weeks ago I was awoken by Chicago's finest chasing a guy through the lot. I would like to either purchase it or have the city lean on the owners to maintain their lots. I went to the alderman, who referred me to 311, and when I called 311, they told me to call... you guessed it, the alderman. 

I am not interested in going down the rabbit hole of bureaucracy. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? 

[Theresa Harris]

Call the alderman back and say 311 referred him to you.

If the guy across the street owns the cars on the vacant lot, I'm guessing only the owner of the lot can call and get them towed-the guy who owns the cars should know who the owner is or he's very ballsy to just park his car on a lot that belongs to a stranger.

you could call and say there are abandoned cars on the lot and see if they will get towed.