Illinois Eminent Domain Attorneys

In the event a residence or business is being acquired through eminent domain, the landowner or business owner will also be entitled to relocation expenses in addition to just compensation for the acquisition itself. When businesses specifically are being relocated, it is imperative that the business receive every last dollar in relocation expenses because an insufficiently funded relocation could render a business insolvent.

An Illinois condemnor may view a business relocation in very simple moving terms, but any business owner will attest that uprooting and relocating a business is a significant endeavor, requiring substantial financial outlays. An eminent domain attorney in Illinois can ensure that a business can be adequately relocated in the event its building is being acquired.

There are three keys to an Illinois landowner’s case for just compensation: Adequate compensation for the acquisition itself, Adequate compensation for any diminution of value in the remainder (partial takings), Adequate compensation for relocation (total taking of business or residence).

A landowner who successfully evaluates and identifies the three keys above (where relevant) and who hires a competent and qualified eminent domain attorney will position themselves as best as possible for “winning” his or her eminent domain case.

Illinois eminent domain cases vary in length. For cases that resolve pre-suit, they last around 1-3 months from the point of offer (however, as is the case with any acquisition, condemnors’ plans and schedule can change daily, extending the time it takes to resolve a case). For cases that do not or cannot resolve pre-suit, resolution will likely take anywhere from 3-18 months from the point of offer. Cases that require trial (very few) generally last 12 months but are largely dependent on the court’s docket and schedule.

The City of Springfield is undertaking the Springfield Rail Improvements Project to address issues of public safety, traffic congestion, community livability and commercial development. The Tenth Street corridor will be upgraded in segments as funding becomes available. The second segment will most likely be Usable Segment 2, including the Ash and Laurel Street underpass at Tenth Street.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

The Grain Belt Express is a proposed 800-mile transmission line which would traverse Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Formerly the Grain Belt Clean Line, this project has been bogged down in ownership changes and administrative roadblocks since its inception. Grain Belt, if constructed, would move electricity collected from west Kansas wind farms to the Indiana state line. The line would cross hundreds of rural properties and affect thousands of acres of prime farmland.

Due to legal and regulatory issues, the Grain Belt currently has the necessary authority to construct in Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana, but its approval in Illinois is still pending as of late 2020. While construction isn’t anticipated for several years, the attorneys at Sever Storey expect Grain Belt to attempt to acquire easements from landowners in Kansas and Missouri at any point.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

Proposed widening of Randall Road in Kane County, IL, to six lanes.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

This road project in Kendall County, IL plans to extend Eldamain Road from U.S. 34 to Walker Road.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

The current project extends along Weber Road from 119th Street north of the interchange to 135th Street to the south and a half-mile east and west of Weber Road with Interstate 55 as the centerpoint.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

The interchange project includes the conversion of the existing partial interchange at IL 59 and I-55 to a full access diverging diamond interchange also known as a DDI. A DDI is a double cross over diamond. The diamond shaped configuration allows for two directions of traffic on a bridge to cross to the opposite side of the bridge. The benefits of this type of interchange include improved safety and operations. This project provides connections for pedestrians and bicyclists over I-55 to IL 59 and new auxiliary lanes between IL 59 and US 52 to improve congestion and safety for vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

Projects planned along I-80 are estimated to cost $1.2 billion and are included in the department’s fiscal year 2020-2025 program. IDOT is focusing on 16 miles of I-80 in Will County between Ridge Road in Minooka and U.S. Route 30 in New Lenox. Planned improvements include replacing the bridge at Rock Run Creek, widening the Houbolt Road bridge, reconstructing lanes and adding other roadway improvements between I-55 and Houbolt Road and replacing the bridge at Joliet Junction Trail.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

The broader project’s proposed improvements involve the rehabilitation of the bridges along the Route 20 corridor. The estimated overall cost of the project is $80 million, and construction is not currently funded. The interchange improvements involve replacement of the Route 31 bridge over Route 20 to provide two lanes in each direction with left-turn lanes. The project also includes pedestrian and bicyclist improvements. The $10 million interchange project is currently funded

The proposed improvement will reconstruct the existing US 41 at IL 176 interchange and the intersection of IL 176 at IL 43 with additional through lanes, additional auxiliary lanes, improved geometrics, replacement of traffic signals, and improved drainage. Pump Station 37 for the US 41 underpass at IL 176 will be reconstructed and Pump Station 41 for the US 41 underpass at Canadian National Railroad will be improved.

More Detailed Information on This Project.

The general scope of work in this area would consist of realigning Pleasant Valley Road to create a four-leg intersection at the existing three-leg intersection of IL 47 at IL 176 South Junction. After the improvement, the existing Pleasant Valley Road will no longer have access to IL 47 at the current location and will be closed off with a cul-de-sac. All parcels along the existing Pleasant Valley Road that are impacted by the realignment will have access to the new Pleasant Valley Road alignment.

The proposed scope of work for this project is to reconstruct the mainly two-lane roadway corridor to provide improved traffic mobility and capacity. IDOT proposes the following scope of work while improving safety and mobility for vehicles and pedestrians:

Two lanes in each direction separated by a grass or raised median, The addition of paved shoulders through high speed areas and turn lanes throughout, Accommodations for sidewalk and shared-use path to support pedestrian and cyclists, Inclusion of water quality features, such as, bioswales and/or native plantings and ditch modifications, which, provide filtration for improved water quality.

The project, which includes plans for more traffic lanes, five roundabout intersections, a bicycle lane and a hard median, currently is in its first phase. The second phase includes contract plan preparation and land acquisition. Construction crews begin working in the third phase. The project will stretch about five miles, from Charles Road to Highway 14. IDOT estimates the cost of construction at about $76 million.