By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News
(CHICAGO) Northwest side Alderman Nick Sposato (36th) says construction of a new high school in his neighborhood should proceed, even though it is being built on an old burial ground. Last week the Chicago Tribune revealed that construction of the new school at Oak Park Avenue and Irving Park Road risks disturbing some 38,000 graves, dating back to when the property housed the former Cook County Poor house.
The Tribune says workers have until April 27 to excavate and clear the site, remediate the soil and relocate an existing sewer line. The report says if workers come across intact graves, the coffins will be moved to a staging area before construction work can resume.
However Alderman Sposato does not want the discovery to halt construction of what he says is a much-needed high school in his neighborhood. He told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS, that he is hoping construction proceeds.
Especially on the Northwest Side, we’re busting at the seams. It is going to be a high school and it’s going to alleviate some overcrowding in our one Northwest Side high school.”
The Tribune reports that the Illinois State Museum has jurisdiction over any human remains that are discovered, per the Human Skeletal Remains Act. That museum would ultimately work with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to establish a final resting place for any remains unearthed during the school construction.
Sposato says that is fine, as long as nothing interferes with construction of the new school.
“I’m confident it’ll be done by the 2019 school year” said Sposato, “A new school for a community is always an awesome thing.”
@ 2018 WLS-AM News
