Feds give city approval to buy homes near O'Hare

[question everything]

www.suntimes.com

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ohare24.html

Feds give city approval to buy homes near O'Hare

September 24, 2004

BY MARK J. KONKOL Staff Reporter

The Federal Aviation Administration this week gave Chicago the go-ahead to start buying property in Bensenville and Elk Grove Village within the O'Hare Airport expansion footprint.

A letter from the FAA said Chicago may create a program to buy property from folks in "hardship situations" if leaders from the towns they live in approve individual deals.

O'Hare expansion officials plan to send a round of letters to residents in those neighborhoods saying the city is now willing to buy property from people with severe financial, medical or work-related reasons for wanting to sell.

(snip)

But O'Hare expansion opponents said the city home-buying effort is anything but humanitarian... Expansion opponents say there's no evidence of any "hardship" situations in those two towns. "Our concern is they'll create a checkerboard pattern of destruction," said Joseph Karaganis, an attorney for the two towns. "What they're trying to do is destroy communities before the project is evaluated by the FAA."

At the FAA's request, the city will model its hardship acquisition program after similar efforts by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Transportation Department. Homeowners interested in the program may contact the city at [phone].

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

1. Its amazing what they can do with Airports..like in Lousville.

When the Louisville airort expandced they bought out and removed entire neighborhoods...even entire incorporated suburbs....even factorys and highways where relocated.