Carol Stream seeks federal funds to buy flood-prone house

Carol Stream is seeking federal funds to help purchase a house in a flood-prone neighborhood as part of a voluntary buyout program.

As a result of a major flood south of Armstrong Park in 2008, four homeowners sought to have their properties purchased by the village, which utilizes a combination of local, county and federal funds to administer the program. All four houses received grant funding through a federal hazard mitigation program, but only three received county funding.

That notification came last year, after the initial request was made in 2008. So village officials have sought another funding source for the remaining house, resulting in an application for funds through the federal “Ike” disaster recovery program.

The fourth house didn’t receive funding from the county because it didn’t have the same amount of damages as the other three, which are located at a lower elevation and had higher water levels after the 2008 flood, according to Jim Knudsen, the village’s director of engineering services.

Meanwhile, appraisals have been done on the three houses and documentation is now under review by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. After that, offers will be made on the homes, which the homeowners can reject if they so choose.

But after closings, the village would take ownership, and likely demolish the houses. The village is considering several options for the properties, including using them as rain gardens or bioretention areas, Knudsen said.

“You don’t want to pay for future flood damage,” Knudsen said. “Technically you could build on it, but you’d have to go through lots of approvals. It’s not worth the cost. The better purpose is for it to be used as open space.”