The state has paused construction at a Southwest Side site intended to house newly arrived migrants amid an environmental report that found toxic contaminants and heavy metals in its soil.
Construction was halted Sunday pending an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency review of a nearly 800-page city consultant’s study that was released Friday night. The review will determine whether the project goes forward.
“We are continuing the construction pause tomorrow as the IEPA continues their review,” Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “We are hopeful we will have more information to share tomorrow.”
Earlier Monday, the governor’s office said the agency still had unanswered questions regarding the study.
Pritzker is committing $65 million for the shelter and directing the contractor on the site.
The Brighton Park migrant housing tents on Monday show roofs now covering the shelters. But construction was halted Sunday at the site intended to house newly arrived migrants pending an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency review of a nearly 800-page city consultant’s study that was released Friday night.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Late Friday, City Hall released the report that found a number of heavy metals and toxic chemicals were present on the property.
Despite those findings, the city said the property will be “safe for temporary residential use” once the soil is cleaned up.
Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson, said Monday the city’s testing and cleanup of the site was done in a thorough manner “to make sure that all risk was eliminated.”
“Ultimately, the state will decide to move forward on this site,” Lee said. “They may have other options if they were to choose not to pursue this site.”
The privately owned industrial land at 38th Street and California Avenue is being leased by the city to shelter as many as 2,000 migrants.
Johnson has been promoting the site amid a firestorm of protests from residents who say they don’t want the shelter built.
The land is zoned for heavy manufacturing, has a long history of industrial use and has never been approved for residential purposes.
Despite City Hall’s stated confidence in the safety of the property, the city’s own consultant warned that activity should be halted if more toxic materials are discovered.
“We cannot represent that the site contains no hazardous substances, toxic material, petroleum products or other latent conditions beyond those identified during this evaluation,” city consultant Terracon said in its report.
Around 650 migrants remained camped out at O’Hare Airport and police stations Monday, according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
Contributing: Fran Spielman
