Politics & Government
City Uses County Grant to Demolish Four Abandoned, Damaged Buildings
Four buildings, all of which are either fire damaged or abandoned, were approved for demolition by the Chicago Heights city council on April 15. Most of the costs for the work will be covered by a $300,000 grant from Cook County.
Chicago Heights will soon have four less damaged or blighted buildings within the city limits in the coming months, thanks to Cook County's Community Development Block Grant program. The grant will cover $300,000 worth of work to the four structures, which the city is already in the process of demolishing.
“Getting such a large grant to tear down these blighted buildings brings to light the wonderful relationship that has developed between the City of Chicago Heights and Cook County,” said Mayor David Gonzalez, in a press release. “I hope to see many more projects accomplished through our partnership with them.”
Demolition is already under way at 1650 Union Street, a large, fire-damaged building and is expected to be completed by June 1. Work on the building began on April 15.
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Two other buildings, 620 S. Halsted Street, the former Tropicana Banquet Hall, and 601 S. Halsted Street, a 10,000-square-foot commercial building, are scheduled for demolition beginning May 15. Work on the two buildings is expected to last until July 1.
Any remaining funds from the grant will then be put towards the fourth building, a single-family home at 146 E 16th Street.
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Chicago Heights city council members approved the demolitions at their Monday, April 15, meeting in a 6-0 vote.
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