Residents' suit against Wilson Yard project thrown out
(Crain's) — A Cook County judge has thrown out a suit filed by an Uptown residents group seeking to block the controversial Wilson Yard project, ruling that the plaintiffs waited too long to file their complaint.
The residents were challenging a Chicago ordinance passed in 2001 that created a tax-increment financing district that encompassed the Wilson Yard project site. Construction began last fall on the $151-million mixed-use project, located along Broadway between Montrose and Wilson avenues.
But the group filed their complaint in December, and the 7 ˝-year delay was determined to be unreasonable by Judge Mary Rochford, who dismissed the case on Monday.
"We disagree with her ruling (and) are weighing our options," said Thomas Ramsdell of Chicago-based Ramsdell & Hind, lawyer for the plaintiffs.
The defendants in the case were the city and six ventures affiliated with the Wilson Yard developer, Chicago-based Holsten Real Estate Development Corp.
The residents also challenged the Wilson Yard project, its financing and the constitutionality of the TIF ordinance. Those claims were also rejected by Judge Rochford on various grounds.
"TIF financing is a rational means of achieving the city's legitimate interest in revitalization and development," Judge Rochford said in her ruling.
(Thomas A. Corfman, senior reporter for Crain's Chicago Business, contributed to this report.)
