Aug 11, 2008 10:58 am US/Central
Judge Delays Demolitions For O'Hare Expansion
WHEATON, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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A Bensenville home stands boarded up as part of the O'Hare expansion project. (File)
CBS
A DuPage County judge Monday barred Chicago for 30 days from starting to demolish more than 550 homes and businesses it owns in Bensenville.
Judge Kenneth Popejoy granted an emergency request from Bensenville officials to block demolition work while the western suburb prepares to appeal his earlier order allowing Chicago to begin knocking down the structures to make room for a massive expansion of O'Hare Airport.
Chicago won a major victory last week when Popejoy lifted a year-long injunction barring any demolition until city officials could show that work wouldn't release hazardous materials.
But Popejoy today issued a stay that blocks any demolition or site work while Bensenville readies its appeal. He warned, though, that his order won't be extended after it expires on Sept. 10.
Attorneys for the suburb said they expect to file an appeal seeking to block the demolition work before Popejoy's order expires.
"We're under the gun and we're trying to protect the community,'' said attorney Joseph Karaganis.
The decision means Chicago can't immediately begin bulldozing empty homes and businesses as soon as it issues a contract for the work — though lawyers for the city already have said they don't expect the work to begin immediately.
Bensenville officials have said they worry the city will move rapidly to begin demolishing the structures — similar to the way the city moved in and bulldozed Meigs Field after deciding to turn the lakefront airport into a park.
Chicago officials contend the Bensenville homes and businesses along the western edge of the airport must be removed to make way for the planned $15 billion O'Hare Modernization Project.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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