Chicago close to taking first Elk Grove site

Chicago is close to buying its first piece of land in Elk Grove Village, frustrating the hard-line foe of new runways at O'Hare International Airport.

Using its condemnation powers, Chicago on Friday hopes a court signs off on its purchase of a patch of land near Elmhurst Road and Touhy Avenue for a landing light for the new northern runway, officials said.

Chicago is using the quick-take powers it won in 2003 for the $6.6 billion O'Hare expansion to fast-track the purchase of land -- described by officials as a 16-by-24-foot piece.

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson, who has been one of the project's most outspoken opponents, called the move "despicable."

Rosemarie Andolino, executive director of the O'Hare Modernization Program, said the city has been working with the property owner, Elk Grove Village-based Arthur J. Rogers & Co., and is eyeing only the property needed for the lighting. The single-story office building at 1651-57 Carmen Drive will be spared.

"We've been working together. That's the city's approach to acquiring property," Andolino said.

But Johnson said Chicago is violating a property owner's rights.

"It should turn our stomach to hear another municipality is taking property from this municipality," Johnson said.

An official with Arthur J. Rogers didn't return phone calls Wednesday.

Johnson said he awaits Chicago's permit request at village hall for the lighting, suggesting a possible wrinkle.

"Last time I looked, we didn't have anything in our laws allowing landing lights," Johnson said.

Andolino, however, said the state law clearing the way for the expansion project lets Chicago proceed with its plans without local permits.

Chicago has acquired the 126 acres it needed in Des Plaines for the project. This would be the first property of the 14.8 acres it needs to acquire in Elk Grove Village. In Bensenville, more than 540 homes and businesses have been acquired.

Work at O'Hare is on schedule, Andolino said. "We're going to be landing planes on that runway in 238 days from today," she said. "When there were a lot of naysayers … it's done."

Elk Grove Village and Bensenville have led the suburban fight against Chicago's plans, using lawsuits to try to stop new runways.

Elk Grove Village trustees on Tuesday night showed no signs of abandoning that cause, voting to add another $500,000 to spend on the litigation tied to its battle.