City of Chicago Heights

Chicago Heights to Acquire Properties for Downtown, East Side Redevelopment

Posted on 2011-09-20 09:38:01 CST

The City Council on Monday approved measures that will give the city ownership of, or control over, properties that will enhance long-range proposals for redeveloping the downtown and the east side.

One measure approved by a 7-0 vote paves the way for city ownership of 1527 Otto Blvd., which for the past five years has been the Union Street Gallery.

The property was in foreclosure, but the bank with control over the site has little interest in trying to sell or maintain it. As part of the deal that city officials negotiated, the city will remove the liens it put on the property in an attempt to recoup the costs of mowing and other maintenance work done at the site.

In exchange, the bank will give the deed to the land to the city. The city then will approve a deal in which the Union Street Gallery will rent the building for $1 annually.

Mayor David Gonzalez called the building "gorgeous."

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