Online Petition Surfaces Opposing City's Land Grab Around Midway

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 4, 2011 3:05PM

Image Credit: P.B.

An online petition has formed in opposition to the City's Wednesday approval to buy four properties near Midway Airport to expand "runway protection zones."

The city said the purchase of the properties is necessary to avoid events like the Southwest Airlines flight that overran a runway in 2005, killing a child.

The petition reads:

"The Airport and surrounding neighborhood has a rich history as the unique one-square-mile footprint of Midway Airport is due to its connection to the Chicago Board of Education. Under the Land Ordinance of 1785, land was divided into townships.

"Each township included a one-square-mile (640 acre) section devoted to education. In most instances, one-room school houses were located on this land, the balance of which was farmed to provide funds for the operation of the school. As township school districts consolidated, much of this excess land was typically sold for other purposes...

"Alderman Marty Quinn has greatly failed our neighborhood as did the previous Alderman, Frank Olivo. They have neglected to encourage thriving businesses and attribute to economic growth, foster affordable public housing during a dire time, and facilitate long-overdue public transit to effectively commute north to south.

"The purchase of certain parcels of land would demolish undesignated historical landmarks, force out a large volume of residents and eliminate businesses integral to the Clearing neighborhood of Chicago."