However, years of neglect are making those properties hard to sell.
Suzie B. Wilson and her sister spent decades building a real estate empire, mostly in Chicago's poorest areas.
The blighted properties accumulated $15 million in city fines for rat-related violations.
After Wilson filed for bankruptcy, Chicago signed off on a plan to sell the properties, hoping to bring millions of dollars to its coffers.
However, nobody wanted most of the properties, and those that sold went for a fraction of their estimated value.
That leaves the city without the money it anticipated, and homeowners still saddled with weed-strewn vacant lots with little prospect of a solution.
To read the full report, visit illinoisanswers.org.
Previous coverage:
- Bidding opens for properties 'city's worst landowner' must sell
- Chicago reaches tentative settlement with companies of Northbrook woman dubbed 'worst landowner'
- Chicago boosting efforts to sue Northbrook woman as 'city's worst landowner'