The city of Chicago is looking for developers to revive more than a dozen vacant lots near the United Center, ahead of the arena’s ownership kicking off construction on its $7 billion 1901 Project .

The city opened up requests for proposals last month for four clusters of city-owned lots, totaling 19 sites, along West Madison and West Fifth streets in the Near West Side and East Garfield Park. On Wednesday, it held a pre-submission meeting for interested parties.

Officials from the Department of Planning and Development said the lots are part of a broader push for more infill development that’s currently taking place on the West Side.

“There is a positive narrative around new housing and infill development occurring here in the community, some of which has been affordable,” Brian Hacker

See Full Page