“Local officials and leaders at the Cook County Land Bank Authority joined (owner) Tytus Henry Thursday to celebrate the completion of the single-family home at 8514 S. Peoria Ave.

“The four-bedroom, four-bath Victorian home is the 2,000th Cook County Land Bank Authority property to be redeveloped in the organization’s 10-year history.

“The Cook County Land Bank Authority bought the vacant property in 2019. The 4,500-square-foot home was built in 1890.

“Henry, owner of Lion Heart Construction, bought the home from the land bank in 2021 for $40,000, he said. He began working on the property at the end of 2022 after completing projects for other investors.

“‘Tytus worked to turn this abandoned, dilapidated home into a beautiful place that we stand in today,’ said Jessica Caffrey, executive director of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. ‘In the process, he created jobs, helped launch careers, created tax revenue and put a jewel right here on this block in Auburn Gresham.’

“The house needed to be ‘built from the ground up,’ Henry said. That meant adding new studs, electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC units and flooring to the four-story home. Henry invested about $225,000 in the property, he said.

“‘Henry has three remodeling projects lined up for homes in Auburn Gresham and Englewood, he said. He hopes to launch a nonprofit called Raising Lions to continue mentoring youth in the construction industry.

“Henry completed renovations on the home last month, he said. A new buyer is closing on the home Friday.

“In the past decade, the Cook County Land Bank Authority has created over 1,400 jobs, generated more than $58.1 million in community wealth and added over $1.8 billion in economic impact throughout Cook County, according to the study.

“The Lank Bank is the key to reversing some of the historic wrongs that have created such extreme inequities in our city and our county, including here in Auburn Gresham,’ said county board President Toni Preckwinkle. ‘Because when we’re talking about home ownership, we’re really talking about safety and shelter, a place to nurture a family, a way to grow generational wealth that can be passed down to future generations.'”(Reed, Block Club Chicago, 10/7/24)

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Auburn Gresham Victorian Is 2000th Home Remodeled Through Cook County Land Bank; Developer Tytus Henry remodeled the four-bed, four-bath Victorian home “from the ground up,” with help from local youth who hope to work in the trades, Atavia Reed, Block Club Chicago, 10/7/24
• Cook County Land Bank Authority 10-Year Economic Impact Analysis
• Cook County Land Bank Authority Website