Local News

Casino parking lot permit gains Homewood board approval

A special use permit was approved for a parking garage for the firm hoping to develop a casino along the border of Homewood and East Hazel Crest. 

Wind Creek LLC hopes to develop the property west of Halsted Street between the Halsted Street Exchange on Interstate 80/294 and 175th Street. Wind Creek has filed plans to build a casino and hotel on 16.3 acres there that is in East Hazel Crest. Homewood has 7.1 acres adjoining the site where the enclosed 4-story attendant parking structure and parking lot would be built to serve the proposed development.

The Illinois Gaming Board hasn’t yet made a decision on which of several possible sites in the South Suburbs could be issued permits to build a new casino, Village Attorney Chris Cummings said. Wind Creek needed to show on its application that the zoning for the location was in place, which required the village board to agree to the permit at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13. 

“This was the final piece, as far as the Homewood side was concerned,” Cummings said. 

Trustees approved the move 4-1 with Trustee Karen Washington casting the dissenting vote. Trustee Lisa Purcell was absent.

Washington has opposed the casino development since it was first proposed last year. 

In other business, an outdated committee meant to help the fire department buy emergency medical equipment was disbanded.

The Emergency Medical Fund Committee was formed in 1981 when the village, the Homewood Chamber of Commerce and the Homewood Fire Department Association organized to manage donations used to purchase and replace emergency medical equipment for the fire department. 

Now the majority of the fire department’s needs are worked into the annual village budget. The remaining $10,814.73 in the committee’s account was transferred to Homewood’s general fund to be spent on medical equipment.

The board approved the appointment of Christopher Cummings as the village representative to the Chicago South Suburban Mass Transit District for a four-year term. Sheree Henry was reappointed to the village’s Veterans Committee for a three-year term.

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