Oak Park’s plan to acquire the U.S. Bank building on Madison Street is in the hands of state lawmakers, and the first vote in Springfield on the matter may come soon.
Oak Park’s village board voted in January to start the “quick take” process for 11 Madison St. with the plan of acquiring the bank location so it could be converted into a new standalone police station for the Oak Park Police Department. Trustees backed the plan as a less expensive alternative to constructing a new police building on the green space just south of Village Hall’s parking lots.
Quick take is an accelerated version of eminent domain, the process by which governments can stake claim to real estate for public use. The quick take process requires approval from both the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives…