Part I - Slum And Blighted Areas


      (315 ILCS 30/Pt. I heading)
PART I. SLUM AND BLIGHTED AREAS

    (315 ILCS 30/9) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.109)
    Sec. 9. The Department of Urban Renewal, as agent of the municipality, shall have and exercise the following powers with respect to redevelopment projects:
    (a) To acquire slum and blighted areas and other areas which may constitute a redevelopment project as provided in this Act;
    (b) To clear any such areas so acquired by demolition or removal of existing buildings and structures thereon; and to install, repair, construct or reconstruct streets, utilities and site improvements essential to the preparation of sites for use in accordance with a redevelopment plan;
    (c) To convey real property so acquired for use in accordance with a redevelopment plan;
    (d) To accomplish a combination of the foregoing to carry out a redevelopment plan.
    In relation to the foregoing powers the Department may investigate into living and housing conditions in its area of operation to determine the extent and location of slum and blighted areas and other areas which may constitute a redevelopment project as defined herein and to ascertain in which of such area or areas development or redevelopment should be undertaken, and in connection with any such investigation may conduct public hearings, take testimony and proof under oath on the subject matter of such investigation, and cooperate with the planning agency of the municipality wholly or partially within its area of operation.
    The Department shall have power to make studies, surveys and plans preliminary to or concerning any projects which are permissible under this Act.
    The Department shall not be limited to one development or redevelopment project, but may have as many projects in process at one time as it may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act.
    A Department shall have no power to build or operate housing on any real property acquired under the provisions of Part I of this Act, other than to manage, operate and maintain existing housing or other buildings and improvements located thereon at the time of acquisition pending the demolition and removal of such buildings or improvements or the sale of any such buildings or improvements the demolition or removal of which is not deemed necessary to the redevelopment plan, and to use the rents and income to pay any expense in connection therewith.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/9a) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.109a)
    Sec. 9a. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty‑fourth General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 84‑731.)

    (315 ILCS 30/10) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.110)
    Sec. 10. In making investigations herein authorized the Department may hold public hearings. Any hearing may be conducted by the Department or by a committee appointed by it, consisting of one or more members of the Department, or by an employee or agent specially authorized by the Department to conduct it. The Department and any member, employee or agent thereof so designated shall have power to administer oaths, take affidavits, subpoena and require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books and papers pertaining to such investigation.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/11) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.111)
    Sec. 11. Whenever the Department determines that a particular slum or blighted area, or any other area which may constitute a redevelopment project, as herein defined, should be acquired pursuant to the provisions of this Act, such determination together with an accurate description of the area included in such determination and the date on which the determination was made shall be immediately set forth in the records of the Department. Such determinations by the Department may be made from time to time and need not all be made at one time. Each such determination shall be evidenced by a resolution adopted by the Department.
    The area of each such determination shall be specifically designated in the resolution as a "Slum and Blighted Area Redevelopment Project" or a "Blighted Vacant Area Redevelopment Project," according to the determination of the Department. A certified copy of such resolution shall be delivered to the governing body of the municipality in which the area is situated. No such determination shall be of any force or effect until such time as it has been approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the area is situated.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/12)(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.112)
    Sec. 12. Upon approval of the determination as provided in the preceding Section, the Department, as agent for the municipality, may proceed to acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation the fee simple title to all real property lying within the area included in the redevelopment project, including easements and reversionary interests in the streets, alleys and other public places lying within such area. If any such real property is subject to an easement the Department, in its discretion, may acquire the fee simple title to such real property subject to such easement if it determines that such easement will not interfere with the consummation of a redevelopment plan. If any such real property is already devoted to a public use it may nevertheless be acquired, provided that no property belonging to the United States of America, the State of Illinois or any municipality may be acquired without the consent of such governmental unit and that no property devoted to a public use belonging to a corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission may be acquired without the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Each Department, as agent for the municipality, is hereby vested with the power to exercise the right of eminent domain. Condemnation proceedings instituted hereunder shall be brought by and in the name of the municipality and shall be in all respects in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act.
    Any determination to acquire a particular slum or blighted area, or any other area which may constitute a redevelopment project, as herein defined, heretofore made by a land clearance commission pursuant to the "Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947," approved July 2, 1947, as amended, and heretofore approved by the State Housing Board and the governing body of the municipality, shall be sufficient to authorize acquisition by the Department, as agent for the municipality, of all or any of the real property included in such area.
(Source: P.A. 94‑1055, eff. 1‑1‑07.)

    (315 ILCS 30/12.5)
    Sec. 12.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.
(Source: P.A. 94‑1055, eff. 1‑1‑07.)

    (315 ILCS 30/13) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.113)
    Sec. 13. When a Department, as agent for the municipality, has acquired title to, and possession of, all or any part of the real property located within a redevelopment project pursuant to the provisions of this Act, it may let contracts for the demolition or removal of buildings standing thereon and for the removal of any debris resulting therefrom. The Department shall advertise for sealed bids for the doing of such work. The advertisement shall describe by street number or other means of identification the location of the buildings which are to be demolished or removed and shall state the time when and place where sealed bids for the doing of the work may be delivered to the Department. The advertisement shall be published once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality in which the real property is located at least twenty (20) days prior to the date named therein when time for receiving bids will expire. A contract for the doing of the work shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Department may reject any and all bids received and re‑advertise for bids. Any contract entered into by the Department pursuant to this Section shall contain provisions requiring the contractor to give bond in an amount equal to one‑third of his bid price, but in no event in excess of Twenty‑five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), conditioned for the faithful performance of the contract and requiring the contractor to furnish insurance of a character and amount to be determined by the Department protecting the Department and the municipality and their members, officers, agents and employees against any claims for personal injuries (including death) and property damage that may be asserted because of the doing of the work. The Department may include in any advertisement and in the contract to be let pursuant thereto one or more buildings, or such group of buildings, as the Department in its sole discretion may determine.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/14) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.114)
    Sec. 14. The Department, if its sees fit so to do, may pave and improve streets in the area included in the redevelopment project, construct sidewalks and install or re‑locate sewers, water pipes, and other similar facilities. The Department shall advertise for sealed bids for the doing of the work referred to in this Section. The advertisement shall describe the nature of the work to be performed and shall state the time when and place where sealed bids for the doing of the work may be delivered to the Department. The advertisement shall be published once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality in which the redevelopment project is situated at least twenty (20) days prior to the date named therein when the time for receiving bids will expire. A contract for the doing of the work shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Department may reject any and all bids received and readvertise for bids. The contractor shall be required to enter into bond in an amount equal to one‑third of the amount of his bid conditioned for the faithful performance of the contract. The sureties on any such bond and on any bond to be given pursuant to the provisions of Section 13 hereof shall be approved by the Chairman of the Department.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/15) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.115)
    Sec. 15. When the Department, as agent for the municipality, has acquired title to, and possession of any or all real property in the area of a redevelopment project, the Department (1) may convey to any public body having jurisdiction over schools, parks or playgrounds in the area in which the project is situated such parts of such real property for use for parks, playgrounds, schools and other public purposes as the Department may determine, and at such price or prices as the Department and the proper officials of such public bodies may agree upon; and (2) may grant easements for public utilities, sewers and other similar facilities, with or without consideration therefor.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)

    (315 ILCS 30/16)(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.116)
    Sec. 16. The Department, with the approval of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the governing body of the municipality in which the redevelopment project is located, may sell and convey not to exceed 15% of all the real property which is to be used for residential purposes in the area or areas of a redevelopment project or projects to a Housing Authority created under an Act entitled "An Act in relation to housing authorities," approved March 19, 1934, as amended, having jurisdiction within the area of the redevelopment project or projects, to provide housing projects pursuant to said last mentioned Act; provided the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determines that it is not practicable or feasible to otherwise relocate eligible persons residing in the area of the redevelopment project or projects in decent, safe and uncongested dwelling accommodations within their financial reach, unless such a housing project is undertaken by the Housing Authority, and provided further that first preference for occupancy in any such housing project developed by the Housing Authority on such real property shall be granted to eligible persons from the area included in the redevelopment project or projects that cannot otherwise be relocated in decent, safe and uncongested dwelling accommodations within their financial reach.
    Any real property sold and conveyed to a Housing Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be sold at its use value (which may be less than its acquisition cost), which represents the value at which the Department determines such land should be made available in order that it may be redeveloped for the purposes specified in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 94‑793, eff. 5‑19‑06.)

    (315 ILCS 30/17)(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.117)
    Sec. 17. A Department, with the approval of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the governing body of the municipality in which the project is located, may sell and convey any part of the real property within the area of a slum and blighted area redevelopment project as defined in Subsection (j) of Section 3 hereof to a Housing Authority created under an Act entitled "An Act in relation to housing authorities," approved March 19, 1934, as amended, having jurisdiction within the area of the redevelopment project or projects. Any real property sold and conveyed to a Housing Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be for the sole purpose of resale pursuant to the terms and provisions of Section 5 of an Act entitled "An Act to facilitate the development and construction of housing, to provide governmental assistance therefor, and to repeal an Act herein named," approved July 2, 1947, to a nonprofit corporation, or nonprofit corporations, organized for the purpose of constructing, managing and operating housing projects and the improvement of housing conditions, including the sale or rental of housing units to persons in need thereof. No sale shall be consummated pursuant to this Section unless the nonprofit corporation to which the Housing Authority is to resell, obligates itself to use the land for the purposes designated in the approved plan referred to in Section 19 hereof and to commence and complete the building of the improvements within the periods of time which the Department fixes as reasonable and unless the Department is satisfied that the nonprofit corporation will have sufficient moneys to complete the redevelopment in accordance with the approved plan.
    Any real property sold and conveyed to a Housing Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be sold at its use value (which may be less than its acquisition cost), which represents the value at which the Department determines such land should be made available in order that it may be developed or redeveloped for the purposes specified in the approved plan.
(Source: P.A. 94‑793, eff. 5‑19‑06.)

    (315 ILCS 30/18) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.118)
    Sec. 18. The Department may at such times as it deems expedient transfer and sell the fee simple title, or such lesser estate as the Department may have acquired, or as may theretofore have been acquired by a land clearance commission, to all or any part of the real property within the area of a redevelopment project not disposed of in accordance with Sections 15, 16, and 17 hereof to (1) Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporations operating under the "Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation Law," approved July 9, 1941, as amended, (2) Insurance Companies operating under Section 125a of the "Illinois Insurance Code," approved June 29, 1937, as amended, (3) any individual, association, or corporation, organized under the laws of this State or of any other State or country, which may legally make such investments in this State, including foreign and alien insurance companies, as defined in Section 2 of said "Illinois Insurance Code", or (4) bodies politic and corporate, public corporations, or any private interest empowered by law to acquire, develop and use such real property for such uses, public or private, as are in accordance with an approved plan; provided, however, that any sale of real property to a housing authority shall be made only in accordance with the provisions of Sections 16 and 17 hereof. To assure that the real property so sold is used in accordance with the approved plan referred to in Section 19 hereof, the Department shall inquire into and satisfy itself concerning the financial ability of the purchaser to complete the redevelopment in accordance with the approved plan and shall require the purchaser to execute in writing such undertakings as the Department may deem necessary to obligate the purchaser: (1) to use the land for the purposes designated in the approved plan, (2) to commence and complete the building of the improvements within the periods of time which the Department fixes as reasonable, and (3) to comply with such other conditions as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Any such area may be sold either as an entirety or in such parcels as the Department shall deem expedient. It shall not be necessary that title be acquired to all real property within the area of a redevelopment project before the sale of a part thereof may be made as provided herein. Any real property sold pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall be sold at its use value (which may be less than its acquisition cost), which represents the value at which the Department determines such land should be made available in order that it may be developed or redeveloped for the purposes specified in the approved plan.
    Any real property lying within the area of the redevelopment project which has not been sold by the Department within five years after the Department has acquired title to all the real property within the area of that redevelopment project, shall be forthwith sold by the Department at public sale for cash to the highest bidder obligating himself in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph of this Section to redevelop the property in accordance with the approved plan. Notice of such sale and of the place where the approved plan may be inspected shall be published once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality in which the real property is situated at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of such public sale, and shall contain a description of the real property to be sold.
    The Department may reject the bids received if, in the opinion of the Department, the highest bid does not equal or exceed the use value (as hereinabove defined) of the land to be sold. At the expiration of six (6) months from the date of rejecting bids, the Department shall again advertise for sale any real property then remaining unsold. Each publication shall be subject to the same requirements and conditions as the original publication.
(Source: P.A. 83‑333.)

    (315 ILCS 30/19) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 91.119)
    Sec. 19. Prior to making a sale or conveyance of any part of the real property within the area of a redevelopment project pursuant to any of the foregoing sections of this Act, the Department shall prepare and approve a plan for the development or redevelopment of the project area and shall submit the same to the governing body of the municipality in which the real property is situated for their approval. The Department shall not make a sale or conveyance of any part of the real property in the project area until such time as the plan has been approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the real property is situated; provided, however, that any plan for the development or redevelopment of a project area heretofore prepared and approved by a land clearance commission pursuant to the "Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947," approved July 2, 1947, as amended, and heretofore approved by the State Housing Board and the governing body of the municipality shall be sufficient to authorize a sale pursuant to this Section. At the time of making any such sale or conveyance the purchaser shall agree to reimburse any public utility as defined in "An Act concerning public utilities", approved June 29, 1921, as amended, for the costs of relocation of the facilities of such public utility made necessary by the plan for the development or redevelopment of the project area, except and excluding, however, any such costs to the extent incurred for the relocation of such facilities located, prior to the development or redevelopment, in a public way or public property which retains its character as such thereafter.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3308.)