An Illinois appellate court has upheld a DuPage County court ruling allowing Chicago to acquire St. Johannes Cemetery, paving the way for a new runway at O’Hare International Airport as part of an ongoing $8 billion expansion project that is being partly financed with bonds.
The lower court had said Chicago could use its eminent domain powers to acquire the cemetery and the city paid $630,000 to purchase the land.
Opponents appealed and the appellate court granted a stay earlier this year that halted the acquisition process. The appellate court issued it ruling earlier this month.
“We realize this is a very sensitive matter, and we are committed to working closely with the families, as well as the officials from St. John’s United Church of Christ to continue the relocation process,” city Aviation Department commissioner Rosemarie Andolino said in a statement.
Families whose relatives are buried in the cemetery said through an attorney they are reviewing their options.
