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Lincoln School Annex Construction Delayed at Least Three Weeks

By Paul Biasco | August 19, 2014 6:42pm
 A top view of the planned Lincoln Elementary annex.
A top view of the planned Lincoln Elementary annex.
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Chicago Public Building Comission

LINCOLN PARK — The Lincoln Elementary School annex has once again been delayed by a legal challenge filed by neighbors of the school.

A decision by a Cook County judge Tuesday means it will be at least three more weeks before the city can grant building permits to start construction on the addition.

Neighbors of the school filed for a temporary restraining order earlier this month, a move which was originally continued awaiting the decision of the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Zoning Board rejected a challenge to the rezoning granted to the school Friday, but it has yet to issue its final order after Friday's vote.

Under Tuesday's court ruling, until the final order from the board is issued, the city is not authorized to grant construction permits.

Attorneys for the neighborhood opposition and the City of Chicago agreed to continue the case Tuesday until a status hearing scheduled for Sept. 11.

Construction of the annex was originally scheduled to begin July 28.

Opponents of the addition cannot appeal the rezoning in Circuit Court until the final order is issued. They plan to appeal as soon as permissible.

"We have thought all along this is our best chance because it's not a mayor-appointed board," said Michelle Hoppe Villegas, a neighbor of the school who has been fighting the annex.

What impact the delays will have on the construction timeline is unclear. The city's Public Building Commission planned to complete the addition before the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) and other supporters of the school addition had hoped Friday's zoning board ruling would have paved the way for construction to begin early this week.