EDGEWATER — The pumping of standing water — called "putrid" by residents — at the garage of the former Edgewater Medical Center will resume, perhaps as early as Thursday, according to the office of Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th).
Officials had shut down the operation last month.
O'Connor said in a press release that the new owners of the garage gathered the proper permits and properly tested the water.
"Based on the results, they are able to pump the water out of the garage," O'Connor said.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago shut down the operation after residents complained of the smell of the water being pumped into the sewer system through fire hoses.
O'Connor said the pumping could resume as soon as Thursday, depending on weather conditions. The The pumping will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and officials from the Water Reclamation District will be there when they begin pumping, he said.
After the water is pumped out, demolition of the garage will begin, O'Connor said.
Allison Fore, a spokeswoman for the reclamation district, said in an email that the water was tested and "within our ordinance limits."
In October, the garage was sold to a venture of MCZ Development — named Sedgwick Acquisitions, LLC — which intends to demolish the structure and build single-family homes there. In June, MCZ Development also bid $7.5 million to buy the former hospital at the site, 5700 N. Ashland Ave.
Neighbors had said they were concerned about what would happen to the water in the basement of the garage, which connects to portions of the hospital.
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