Landing Pad Lawsuit

Children’s Memorial Hospital’s plans to build a heliport on the roof of its partially bond-financed hospital under construction in downtown Chicago is being challenged by a community group.

The Streeterville Organization of Active Residents filed the lawsuit last month, challenging the Illinois Department of Transportation’s approval of the landing pad.

The complaint faults the approval process and contends that state officials did not take into consideration concerns over safety issues, according to published reports. The hospital says the heliport is needed to treat critically ill children.

The Illinois Finance Authority board last month gave preliminary approval to the hospital’s plan to borrow up to $65 million through a direct bank purchase to reimburse itself for the ongoing costs of its $915 million replacement facility.

The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital is scheduled to open next June.

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