Chicago Prospector is a free online commercial real estate listing service and research tool for business owners as well as those involved in community and economic development. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, Chicago Prospector provides valuable data for available property in low-income areas. Available data includes current neighborhood demographics, information on existing businesses by industry, and tax incentive information. Chicago Prospector is the first website in Chicago that provides access to this detailed information displayed on an interactive map at no cost. The website, has been developed by the award winning GIS Planning company, and is FREE.
2. How are commercial properties listed in Chicago Prospector
Any commercial broker, property owner, developer, or similar real estate entity can list available vacant lots or commercial, retail, and industrial property. Participants have equal access and can take advantage of the system at no cost. Chicago Prospector provides a new, unique venue for interested companies to list their property located in Chicago’s low-income communities. Property seekers can contact the respective brokers directly to inquire about specific properties.As this site is one of a kind in Chicago, it will naturally publicize real estate companies and increase their exposure.
3. How do commercial realtors begin using Chicago Prospector?
Gaining access to and using Chicago Prospector is simple. Interested persons can either submit the broker registration form found at www.chicagoprospector.org, or contact a CCV staff member by selecting the “Contact Us” link. For more information, call 773-822-0318. Once registration information is received by CCV staff, a user name and password is provided and the new user can begin logging on to post available real estate. Contact information is entered by the registered user so interested persons contact the property contact directly. From that point, the registered person can post and update data at any time. Users can instantly view all data entered on the property including available square feet, rates, photographs, and much more. When a property is no longer available, the listing person logs on, and edits the description to being not available.
4. How do users access Chicago Prospector?
The public can view and use the site by going to www.chicagoprospector.com or www.chicagoprospector.org. The site is also available from CCV’s homepage, www.chiventures.org. Anybody with internet access can view all the data and detailed maps featuring the online property listings.
5. How is Chicago Prospector different than other site selection sites/services?
Chicago Prospector is unique to Chicago. The GIS property selection site provides detailed demographic and business information that in the past required a lot of time and money, making availability constricted to high budget corporations. CCV is offering this service at no cost with a goal to reveal the many benefits available to businesses located in Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Renewal Communities (EZ/EC/RC) and the surrounding communities. Chicago Prospector will be used as a research tool for business owners, economic and community development organizations, and real estate professionals. No other site in Chicago provides such current, thorough and important information available to at no cost.
6. How can I find out more information about the Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Renewal Communities (EZ/EC/RC)?
Chicago Prospector displays a list of available incentives for that qualifying properties. Users can follow the links in the incentive list to city and federal web pages that describe the EZ/EC/RC as well as the many incentives business owners qualify for when located in these designated areas. For your quick reference, select the document titled “Benefits to Locating in Chicago’s Empowerment Zones” found at the homepage of www.chicagoprospector.com or www.chicagoprospector.org. Chicago Prospector also provides links to information of Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Industrial Corridors, and Enterprise Zones.
7. What type of properties will be listed?
Chicago Prospector will list available vacant lots, commercial, retail, and industrial properties that are located in the EZ/EC/RC and surrounding communities. To view the list of the15 zip codes on the south and west side of Chicago Prospector is focused on, select “Chicago Prospector Zip Code List” available from the homepage.
8. How will the website connect interested parties to the listing broker or property owner?
Contact information supplied by the broker or property owner accompanies each property listing. Registered persons can include a link to their webpage and email address along with other contact information.
9. How often will data be updated?
Commercial brokers can update their data 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the inventory of available properties can remain current. Business information provided my Dun & Bradstreet and demographic information provided by Applied Geographic Solutions will be updated bi-annually. Chicago Prospector provides data as it is collected so business owners and other researchers can make sound, important decisions that will encourage their success.
10. Why is Chicago Community Ventures providing this service?
Chicago Community Ventures (CCV) is a non-profit business development organization that provides financial, consulting, and technology services to entrepreneurs. CCV targets business owners that are located in Chicago’s low-income areas with a special focus on areas that have been designated as either Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, or Renewal Communities. These areas qualify for many federal and city tax incentives, and Chicago Prospector provides information on these incentives for the knowledge of business owners. CCV hopes that by providing incentive information along with detailed demographic and business information that is not available for free any place else, Chicago Prospector will become a widely used service business owners and real estate professionals rely on as a valuable source. Ultimately, CCV anticipates Chicago Prospector to become a key community and economic development tool in the coming years as the potential of the featured communities is realized.