The City of Casey is partnering with the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority (CILBA) to offer vacant residential lots for $1 through a competitive proposal process aimed at encouraging new home construction and addressing local housing needs.
The initiative, titled the “Vacant Lots to New Homes Initiative,” will make five buildable lots available to qualified developers and contractors. A sixth property is being offered as a side lot, due to limited development potential.
“It’s great to see a regional land bank like CILBA helping communities like Casey address their housing needs,” said Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose. “There are a lot of communities downstate that need this kind of help. Everyone talks about the ‘Missing Middle’ housing crisis and we need strategies to get more homes built.”
Casey officials say the effort builds on years of work addressing vacant and blighted properties.
“We’ve been aggressive about tearing down blighted houses for just over five years now,” Mayor Mike Nichols said. “We’re happy to be working with CILBA on this new initiative so we can start seeing houses built on these now vacant lots. We would love to see five new houses built by the end of 2027 to help create more options for young families and senior citizens.”
Rather than a simple land sale, the program is structured as a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Applicants will be evaluated based on experience, financial capacity, construction plans and intended use of the property.
CILBA Executive Director Mike Davis said the initiative was intentionally designed to give builders flexibility, rather than prescribe one housing model. Smaller lots may be suited for two-bedroom, one-bath starter homes, while larger parcels could accommodate three-bedroom, two-bath homes or even duplexes, depending on proposals received.
Selected developers will be required to construct a residential home that meets all applicable building standards within twelve months of acquiring the property. Preference will be giving to applicants who demonstrate a clear construction timeline and the ability to complete projects efficiently.
Applications for the Casey lots must be submitted at the Economic Development Office at Casey City Hall, 101 West Alabama Avenue, Casey, IL 62420. Request for Proposal applications are due by 1 p.m. on May 8.
The City of Martinsville joined CILBA in 2025 and Marshall recently joined as well, though Casey was selected to launch the initiative because the city has accumulated vacant parcels through years of demolition and anti-blight work.
CILBA has completed over 125 projects in the last five years, working with member communities in central Illinois including Mattoon, Pontiac, Westville, and Mt. Sterling.
Developers interested in applying can find full proposal details and submission requirements through the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority. For more information, please contact CILBA’s Executive Director, Mike Davis, at mdavis@cilba.org or 217-655-8190.
