Eminent Domain/Condemnation
Attorneys in Neal & Leroy have tried condemnation cases since the firm’s founding. A large part of our practice is devoted to representing municipalities, special districts and state entities in acquiring land for public projects. We were the principal firm assembling land for the McCormick Place Exposition Center, the United Center, White Sox Park, Midway Airport, O’Hare Airport, and countless schools, police stations, fire stations, libraries and commercial development projects.
We have handled complex legal issues, including issues involving the acquisition of railroad rights-of-way, intangible property such as the routes of a private bus line, and landmark properties. We have been a leader in the law of property valuation as well as land use and public use law, handling these issues in the state and federal trial courts and state and federal appeals courts.
A portion of our condemnation and eminent domain practice is devoted to representing property owners and other private parties. In this capacity, we have won large jury verdicts for our clients.
Our attorneys have been recognized for their frequent teaching, writing and lecturing on various condemnation topics to the Bar and to non-lawyers.
Our condemnation projects have ranged in size from individual buildings to the assembly of 25 parcels for a school, 200 parcels for a sport stadium or 500 parcels for an airport. The projects range in size from a single parcel to property more than 20 miles in length, for right-of-way acquisitions. Our firm represented McCormick Place in the state’s largest condemnation (in dollar amount) of a single building, the McCormick Inn at McCormick Place.
Key Representative Matters
- Counsel to City of Chicago for O’Hare Modernization Project.
- Represent Public Building Commission of Chicago in the acquisition of private property for the construction of new police stations, fire stations, and libraries.
- Represent City of Chicago in connection with the North Loop/Central Loop Redevelopment, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the nation.
- Represent Illinois Medical District Commission, the nation’s largest urban medical center district, for its redevelopment projects.
- Represent Board of Education of the City of Chicago in the acquisition of private property for the construction of new public schools.
- Counsel to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the Tunnel and Reservoir Project, one of the largest public works projects in the nation.
- Represent private condemnees, successfully challenging the governmental right to acquire and securing substantial awards.
- Counsel to Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority for McCormick Place West Expansion.
- Represent the government of Mexico in the acquisition of a commercial property for a new consulate office.
- Acquired and assembled land for the Chicago Transit Authority Midway (Orange Line) and the Harold Washington Library at Congress and State Streets.
- Acquired land for City Colleges, City of Chicago, Chicago Park District.
- Assembled land and tried condemnation cases for White Sox Park and projects for cities such as Park Ridge and Oak Park.
- Counsel to Illinois State Toll Highway Authority for I-355 South Extension.
- Counsel to Illinois Department of Transportation.
- Assisted counsel in representing the Chicago Transit Authority regarding Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project.
- Assisted counsel in representing public utilities, such as Commonwealth Edison Company, regarding the acquisition of private property and related matters.
- Counsel to private owners regarding eminent domain matters.