Residents Opposed to Sisters of Mercy Development Have a Short Deadline for Representation, Funding

The  residents have until Thursday to establish a non-profit organization and funds to appear in court with a lawyer to stop the village from possibly negotiating an agreement with the Sisters of Mercy for the development of a retirement center.  

In 2008, the village and residents filed a lawsuit against the . They wanted to block plans to build a retirement center on property the village gave to the Sisters of Mercy in 1954, because it was supposed to be used for "religious educational purposes" only. The Village of Evergreen Park and residents of Evergreen Park filed the lawsuit because the proposed center was not for educational use.

Residents who were listed on the lawsuit with the Village of Evergreen Park against the Sisters of Mercy  Cainkar said he withdrew because the two parties had a difference of opinion. The village is considering settlement talks.

Since the village board’s attorney cannot represent them, residents must get a new lawyer, and they said they have one in mind who the Save the Grant Park Foundation recommended. To raise money to fund legal services, residents Beth Amado, Cathy Manahan and Mike Fitzgerald are asking other residents to pledge money to help them afford a lawyer for Thursday’s court date at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago at 10 a.m.  

According to Amy Fitzgerald, who opposed the development for environmental concerns, "some residents are considering cashing in on their retirement to help fund a lawyer." 

Supporters have been pledging money through email, a Facebook group set up to promote the effort, and posting on other social media websites. To go up against the village it will cost residents $1,000 to establish a non-for profit organization and about $50,000 for a lawyer.

The village is considering allowing the Sisters of Mercy’s building to house only a certain percentage of clergy population for about “18 months with increasing levels of public use after that,” according to the Save Educational Space Organization.  

“A settlement is a loss,” said resident Dan Kennelly.

Many of the residents continue to question what changed the village’s mind and why the village may be considering settling with Sisters of Mercy, insisting that money must be a factor in the village’s decision.

“It’s very frustrating. We told (trustees) what we wanted at the high school last year,” said resident Beth Amado.

“It’s black and white,” said Fitzgerald referring to the agreement the village has with Sisters of Mercy.

Building a three to five-story 146-unit retirement center on 99th Street between  and would drastically change the area. 

After Amado gave one last plea to Mayor James Sexton at Monday's Village Board meeting asking for an update on the possible settlement, he said he wouldn't "be able to speak about the litigation publicly, because it may hurt our case."

Evergreen Park Patch Editor Renita Young contributed to this report.