Englewood Residents Continue to Fight Norfolk Railroad to Stay in their Homes

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, September 25, 2013

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Harvard Business School Professor, Steve Rogers

Harvard business professor, Steve Rogers, used a line from a song as he described Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood where he grew up and still owns property, saying “you can call it Tobacco Road but it’s still my home,” referring to the areas “bad” reputation label.

President of the Englewood Railway Coalition (ERC)-- a group of about 30 Englewood residents who refuse to sell their residential property to Norfolk Southern Railroad for its freight yard expansion—Rogers spoke to the Chicago Citizen Newspaper on behalf of those who want to stay in their home.

“They thought we were powerless,” Rogers said last Friday. “This is not just property we’re talking about this is our legacy and history. Three generations of my family have lived in my home in Englewood. My parents were the first African Americans on that block. I’ve told my two daughters, who now live in the home, to never sell our home.”

According to Rogers, Norfolk is interested in the areas bounding 55th Street where the rail company is located and further south to 61st Street then to Stewart and Wallace streets to the east and west; all residential area, but the ERC members’ homes sit in the way.

The rail road cleared a key hurdle last Thursday by gaining approval from the Chicago Plan Commission for a zoning change from residential to light industrial to allow the rail yard expansion.

Robin Chapman, Norfolk spokesperson said, “The zoning is a TIF designation the City needed to change before they could sell to us.”

Rogers said he is aware of the zoning change but that he and other residents will continue to fight.

“We’re American citizens who bought our homes,” Rogers said. “Nobody is able to take our homes. Actions such as eminent domain used by municipalities still have to be decided by a judge. A lot of states changed their eminent domain laws,” he said adding he is aware Norfolk plans to use eminent domain.”

Asked why not take the money the rail road is offering and move from what’s often referred to as a “crime ridden” area, Rogers answered, “The reality is that these are gainfully employed residents and retired homeowners who want to remain in their homes despite Englewood’s reputation. Some people call it tobacco road but it is home us. Who has the right to tell anybody where they should live. Everybody has right to decide where they want to live. These are all tax paying citizens…Chicago police officers, teachers, etc.”

The group’s next step is to continue maintaining their properties as they’ve always done with the view that they will stay in their homes and not be forced out by Norfolk’s expansion. Rogers said.

Rogers said he’s met the Norfolk Vice President, Frederick Blair Wimbush on several occasions.

The Norfolk Southern railroad has a freight yard north of Garfield, and five years ago began buying properties directly to the south for an expanded yard.

Ald. Willie Cochran of the 20th Ward supports the rail road expansion and was quoted in a recent news article as saying that he wants a fair deal for the homeowners.

The city has agreed to sell 105 lots it owns to the railroad. The Norfolk Southern will soon hold title to most of the 83 acres it seeks to buy.

“We’ve acquired more than 90 percent of the lots we need,” Chapman said. “Fifty-nine lots remain to be purchased. We offer a price above fair market value and we also offer relocation expenses and attorneys for the transaction.”

Chapman said Norfolk has not set a deadline for which to acquire the remaining properties and would prefer to negotiate with home owners rather than use eminent domain.

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