East Peoria getting grant to demolish landslide homes

EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - East Peoria officials say the city will receive a $2.7 million grant to purchase and demolish seven properties severely damaged by landslides in 2013.

City Attorney Scott Brunton tells the (Peoria) Journal Star (http://bit.ly/2aBVimT ) the city learned Friday afternoon that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the grant.

The landslides occurred after ground started giving way during heavy rains. Families were evacuated after backyards broke apart and slid down ravines.

Brunton says that after the city acquires the properties, it will demolish the homes and turn them into open green space.

The city and 46 other defendants are being sued by the seven property owners and 22 others in their subdivision over lost property values and inattention to the problems with the ravines in the neighborhood.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com