Zoning, Development and Land Use
Neal & Leroy, LLC has one of the leading zoning and land use practices in the Chicago metropolitan area. Our attorneys have comprehensive experience and knowledge in representing real estate owners, corporations, institutional investors, lenders, homebuilders, and developers in land use, zoning, public sector financing, and related real estate maters. Our experience also includes representing and advising municipalities in these matters.
Our attorneys appear on a regular basis before local governments and their staff, state and federal agencies, as well as administrative and judicial tribunals, and work extensively with elected officials, community and public interest groups, and the media in furtherance of their clients' interests in zoning, land use, and development matters.
We provide a range of services, including advising clients through the complexities of an entitlement process, analysis of existing land use rights and obligations, and zoning and land use litigation.
Our zoning and land use attorneys focus on the business and legal issues that arise from the entitlement process such as design and marketability, financing limitations, and environmental remediation issues.
We employ creative and flexible techniques to assist our clients in realizing the goals of their various real estate transactions. Because of our experience, Neal & Leroy is particularly well suited to negotiate the unique situations that often arise in zoning and land use representation. This expertise allows us to bring even the most difficult land use entitlements to fruition in a timely manner.
Key Representative Matters
- Counsel to a Chicago area hospital in obtaining the necessary zoning approvals to build a new parking garage and day care center. The project required rezoning property to a planned development and approval under the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance.
- Represented the Roosevelt University in obtaining the necessary zoning approvals to build their new vertical campus in Chicago downtown.
- Special assistant state attorney to Putnam County for consulting
on the redevelopment, revitalization, and rehabilitation of the County’s steel mill. - Representation of a Chicago area university in expansion and improvements of its medical campus including acquisition of property, rezoning and entitlements, and various permitting processes.
- Legal counsel in providing oversight, planning and navigation of municipal process and procedures in order to build a healthcare entity.
- Representation of a Chicago area university to expand its South Loop Campus and assist in obtaining the necessary City approvals to construct a new addition to its campus.
- Counsel for Village of Bellwood in its development for a 42-acre regional shopping center.
- Counsel for developers of over 100 million square feet of property throughout the City of Chicago, including serving as lead zoning counsel on one of the largest planned developments in the City’s history.
- Counsel for City of Chicago and the Chicago Music and Dance Theater in Planned Development and Lakefront Protection Ordinance Process for Chicago’s Millennium Park.
- Counsel for North Park University in all phases of the development of its Master Plan for its 18-acre campus on the City’s northwest side.
- Counsel for Comcast in connection with the development of its Regional Technical Facility, in Homewood, Illinois.
- Acquired and rezoned land for Chicago Board of Education, Public Building Commission of Chicago, Chicago Public Library and Chicago Park District for the construction of over 50 new schools, additions, parks and libraries.
- Assisted counsel in representing the Illinois Medical District Commission for its redevelopment projects.
- Assisted counsel in representing the City of Chicago regarding economic redevelopment projects.
- Successfully completed zoning map amendments for various public and private clients.
- Represent City of Chicago in redevelopment of the historic Carson, Pirie Scott & Company flagship store at State and Madison streets.