(20 ILCS 3501/Art. 815 heading)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-5) Sec. 815-5. Findings and Declaration of Policy. It is hereby found and declared that there exists within the State a condition of substantial and persistent unemployment which is detrimental to the welfare of the people of the State; that the absence of an orderly conversion and development of certain property results in blight, economic dislocation, and additional unemployment; that there exists within the State a significant resource of underutilized property which, if returned to productive economic use, will increase employment, increase revenues for the State and units of local government, and lead to a more stable economy; that the acquisition, development or disposition of such land or property in conjunction with units of local government, local industrial development agencies and private enterprise in accordance with development plans will stimulate economic development within the State; that the establishment of the Illinois Land Bank Fund and the exercise by the Authority of the powers granted in this Article will promote economic development resulting in increased employment and public revenues; and that the provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be in the public interest and benefit and a valid public purpose. (Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-10) Sec. 815-10. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Article, shall have the following meanings ascribed to them, except where the context clearly requires otherwise: (a) "Property" means land, parcels or combination of parcels, structures, and all improvements, easements and franchises. (b) "Redevelopment area" means any property which is a contiguous area of at least 2 acres but less than 160 acres in the aggregate located within one and one-half miles of the corporate limits of a municipality and not included within any municipality, where, (1) if improved, a substantial proportion of the industrial, commercial and residential buildings or improvements are detrimental to the public safety, health, morals or welfare because of a combination of any of the following factors: age; physical configuration; dilapidation; structural or economic obsolescence; deterioration; illegal use of individual structures; presence of structures below minimum code standards; excessive and sustained vacancies; overcrowding of structures and community facilities; inadequate ventilation, light, sewer, water, transportation and other infrastructure facilities; inadequate utilities; excessive land coverage; deleterious land use or layout; depreciation or lack of physical maintenance; and lack of community planning; or (2) if vacant, the sound utilization of land for industrial projects is impaired by a combination of 2 or more of the following factors: obsolete platting of the vacant land; diversity of ownership of such land; tax and special assessment delinquencies on such land; and deterioration of structures or site improvements in neighboring areas to the vacant land, or the area immediately prior to becoming vacant qualified as a redevelopment improved area; or (3) if an improved area within the boundaries of a development project is located within the corporate limits of the municipality in which 50% or more of the structures in the area have an age of 35 years or more, such area does not qualify under clause (1) but is detrimental to the public safety, health, morals or welfare and such area may become a redevelopment area pursuant to clause (1) because of a combination of 3 or more of the factors specified in clause (1). (c) "Enterprise" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, or unincorporated association. (d) "Development plan" means the comprehensive program of the Authority and the participating entity to reduce or eliminate those conditions the existence of which qualified the project area as a redevelopment area. Each development plan shall set forth in writing the program to be undertaken to accomplish such objectives and shall include, without limitation, estimated development project costs, the sources of funds to pay costs, the nature and term of any obligations to be issued, the most recent equalized assessed valuation of the project area, an estimate as to the equalized assessed valuation after development and the general land uses to apply in the project area. (e) "Development project" means any project in furtherance of the objectives of a development plan, including any building or buildings or building addition or other structures to be newly constructed, renovated or improved and suitable for use by an enterprise as an industrial project, and includes the sites and other rights in the property on which such buildings or structures are located. (f) "Participating entity" means a municipality, a local industrial development agency or an enterprise or any combination thereof. (Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-15) Sec. 815-15. Illinois Land Bank Fund; Creation; Use. There is hereby created the Illinois Land Bank Fund, hereafter referred to in Sections 815-15 through 815-30 of this Act as the "Fund". The Treasurer of the Authority shall have custody of the Fund, which shall be held outside of the State treasury. The Authority is authorized to accept any and all grants, loans, subsidies, matching funds, reimbursements, appropriations, transfers of appropriations, federal grant monies, income derived from investments, or other things of value from the federal or state governments or units of local government or any agency thereof or from an enterprise for deposit in the Fund. The Authority is authorized to use monies deposited in the Fund expressly for the purposes specified in and according to the procedures established by Sections 815-20 through 815-30 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-20) Sec. 815-20. Powers and Duties. (a) The Authority shall have the following powers with respect to redevelopment areas: (1) To acquire and possess property in a

redevelopment area;

(2) To clear any such areas so acquired by demolition

of existing structures and buildings and to make necessary improvements to the property essential to its reuse in conformity with a development plan; and

(3) To convey property for use in accordance with a

development plan.

(b) Before acquiring property under this Section the Authority shall hold a public hearing after notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is located and shall find: (1) The property is in a redevelopment area; (2) Such acquisition or possession is necessary or

reasonably required to retain existing enterprises or attract new enterprises and to promote sound economic growth and to carry out the purposes of Section 815-5 through 815-30 of this Act;

(3) The assembly of property is not unduly

competitive with similar assemblies by private enterprise in the area or surrounding areas; and

(4) The participating entity, without the involvement

of the Authority, would be unlikely, unwilling or unable to undertake such redevelopment of the property as was necessary for economic development.

(c) No property may be acquired by the Authority unless the acquisition is consented to by resolution of the corporate authorities of the municipality with jurisdiction over the property under Section 11-12-6 of the Municipal Code. (d) The Authority may acquire any interest in property in a redevelopment area by purchase, lease, or gift, but shall not have the power of condemnation. (e) No property shall be acquired under this Section unless the Authority has adopted a development plan under the provisions of Section 815-25. (Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-25) Sec. 815-25. Development Plans. (a) No development plan shall be approved by the Authority unless after a public hearing held upon notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is located, the Authority finds: (1) The plan provides for projects which will reduce

unemployment;

(2) The redevelopment area on the whole has not been

subject to growth and development through investment by private enterprise and would not reasonably be anticipated to be developed without the adoption of the development plan;

(3) The corporate authorities of the municipality

with jurisdiction over the property under Section 11-12-6 of the Municipal Code have by resolution found that the development plan conforms to the comprehensive plan of the municipality;

(4) A participating entity has agreed to enter into

such contracts and other agreements as are necessary to acquire, redevelop and improve the property in accordance with the development plan;

(5) The acquisition of the property, its possession

and ultimate use according to the development plan can be financed by participating entities and the Authority and the development plan will be completed and all obligations of the Authority incurred in connection with the redevelopment plan will be retired within 20 years from the Authority's approval of the development plan; and

(6) The development plan meets such other

requirements as the Authority may establish by rule.

(b) The Authority may dispose of any property which is the subject of a development plan in such manner, whether by sale, lease or otherwise, and for such price, rental or other consideration, including an amount not less than 2/3 of its acquisition cost, payable over such term, and bearing interest as to deferred payments, and secured in such manner, by mortgage or otherwise, all as the Authority shall provide in the development plan. (c) Pending disposition of such land, any existing property acquired by the Authority in the course of carrying out the provisions of this Act may be adequately and properly preserved, and may be maintained, leased or administered by the Authority by a contract made by the Authority with any participating entity, enterprise or individual with experience in the area of property development, management or administration. (d) Whenever the Authority shall have approved a development plan, the Authority may amend the development plan from time to time in conformity with this Section. (Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 3501/815-30) Sec. 815-30. Local Planning; Relocation Costs. The Authority may arrange or contract with a municipality or municipalities for the planning, re-planning, opening, grading or closing of streets, roads, alleys or other places or for the furnishing of facilities or for the acquisition by the municipality or municipalities of property or property rights or for the furnishing of property or services in connection with a development project or projects. The Authority is hereby authorized to pay the reasonable relocation costs, up to a total of $25,000 per relocatee, of persons and businesses displaced as a result of carrying out a development plan as authorized by this Article. (Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)