DOLTON, Ill. — Political dysfunction in Dolton has delayed the suburb’s ability to pay bills, torched trust with residents and led to lawsuits by former village employees. Now, WGN Investigates has learned, it’s also delayed the planned redevelopment of a dilapidated shopping center.
Nicole Scott operates the Free-N-Deed market. It’s a ministry-minded pantry set-up like a grocery store so as to give people in need a sense of dignity. She purchased the dilapidated shopping center that’s home to the pantry with grand plans to expand her offerings to include after-school programs, a banquet hall and thrift store. However, Scott said when she submitted architectural plans, renderings and other documents to the Village of Dolton in July she received no response to repeated inquiries about the status of her application.
“I was told when I purchased this huge property I’m ‘automatically in politics,’” Scott said. “That’s not the goal at all. The goal is to serve the community in a greater capacity.”