First house falls to O'Hare expansion

As the first house standing in the path of O'Hare International Airport expansion came crumbling down Monday, O'Hare opponents said their fight is far from over.

"The O'Hare Modernization Program is touting this as the beginning of a series of demolitions, but this is nothing of the kind," said Joseph Karaganis, attorney for the opponents.

Elk Grove Village and Bensenville officials have led the legal battle to stop the $8 billion expansion of O'Hare, a project aimed at reducing delays while increasing air traffic.

But unlike the other 549 homes and businesses that Chicago has acquired so far for the expansion, Bensenville officials say they agree the house at 135 Garden Ave. had to go because it was damaged during a December fire.

Workers demolished the small ranch house Monday afternoon.

"We made an agreement with Bensenville that this house is a hazard," O'Hare Modernization Program Executive Director Rosemarie Andolino said. "There was a fire here and you can see that it is structurally unsound."

But Karaganis stressed Bensenville remains committed to fighting the demolition of further properties in DuPage County court.

Both parties are expected to appear in front of DuPage County Circuit Judge Kenneth Popejoy today when O'Hare officials present results from environmental tests Popejoy ordered last July.

The tests were ordered after Bensenville submitted sworn affidavits from experts who suspected the presence of toxic chemicals on parts of the O'Hare expansion site.

"The judge will make his decision and we feel we will prevail," said Andolino. "We will wait for the next step in this process."

But Karaganis said even if Popejoy rules in Chicago's favor, Bensenville still has other legal options for stopping demolition work.

The airport expansion ultimately requires the land of 611 homes and businesses in Bensenville.

Andolino said Chicago is negotiating to acquire two more homes. She added that 522 of the parcels Chicago has acquired are vacant.

In response to reporters' questions Monday regarding whether future demolitions will happen, Andolino insisted the project is "moving forward."

"We are having a ribbon cutting for (this project) on Nov. 20, 2008," she said. "So you tell me what that means."