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?