The City of West Chicago is advancing its long-term redevelopment plans for the West Washington Site through a soil removal project now underway. This effort is part of the City’s voluntary participation in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) Site Remediation Program (SRP) with the goal of obtaining a “No Further Remediation” (NFR) letter. Receipt of an NFR would formally acknowledge that the site meets applicable environmental standards and that no further cleanup is required to protect public health or the environment. For West Chicago, obtaining this letter not only ensures the safety of future users of the site—it also significantly enhances the site’s marketability to potential developers.
The approximately 14-acre site, located near 119 W. Washington Street and north of the Wiant House at 151 W. Washington Street, has a long industrial and commercial history. Over the years, various operations—including scrap yards, railroad activity, a former gas station, and the City’s past water treatment processes—have contributed to subsurface soil contamination. These commonly found contaminants include heavy metals, semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds (SVOCs and VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and limited residual levels of radium-226. It’s important to note that the affected soils below the surface do not pose a risk of direct contact in its current state. However, in order to safely redevelop the property for public, residential, civic or commercial use, targeted removal of these underground materials is necessary.
Most notably, while the site previously overlapped with a portion of the Kerr-McGee Residential Areas Superfund Site, all thorium and radium contamination from that source was remediated and certified complete by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) in 2015. Subsequent investigations identified a small remaining area with low levels of radium-226 unrelated to the Kerr-McGee site; this will be addressed separately as part of the future soil removal projects on the site.
The soil removal project is supported by a $600,000 grant awarded in 2023 through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The grant was secured through the efforts of current State Senator Karina Villa, who advocated for the funding during her tenure as an Illinois State Representative. The grant must be utilized by March 31, 2026. Approximately 5,000 cubic yards of soil will be excavated from designated areas using ongoing site testing and monitoring. The impacted material will be removed and replaced with clean fill such as clay or aggregate, and the disturbed areas will be restored. These efforts are aligned with the City’s redevelopment strategy and conducted in compliance with the current IEPA standards.
Public Health and Safety
The City understands that environmental cleanup work—especially on a site with a long industrial history—can raise questions about health and safety. Residents can be assured that there is no current health risk to the community. The contaminants being addressed are located below ground, and the cleanup is being conducted under strict environmental controls and in accordance with the applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Dust and noise are being minimized through active site management, and all work is overseen by licensed environmental professionals.
Public Impacts During Construction
Construction is expected to be substantially complete by December 2025, weather permitting. During this time, residents may notice:
Site Open House: Thursday, August 14
The City invites interested members of the public to a guided Open House at the West Washington Site on Thursday, August 14, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. This event will offer an opportunity to learn more about the site’s history, current remediation work, and future redevelopment potential directly from project and environmental professionals .
Please note:
Project Context
This remediation project is one phase of a larger, multi-year effort to prepare the site for future uses such as public space, municipal facilities, residential or commercial development. The cleanup may be completed to either industrial/commercial or residential environmental standards, depending on the final redevelopment plan. Upon completion of the final phase, the issuance of an NFR Letter by the IEPA will allow the City to demonstrate that the site meets environmental safety thresholds for its intended future uses—protecting public health and offering strong reassurances to potential investors and developers.
Although not part of the ongoing construction project, the site includes space for a pre-planned stormwater detention area (Area F), which can be developed as part of the future phase. This type of advanced planning will reduce permitting complexity and development costs for future users of the site. Combined with the NFR certification, this positions the property as a highly desirable, shovel-ready redevelopment opportunity.
Project Context
This remediation project is one phase of a larger, multi-year effort to prepare the site for future uses such as public space, municipal facilities, residential or commercial development. The cleanup may be completed to either industrial/commercial or residential environmental standards, depending on the final redevelopment plan. Upon completion of the final phase, the issuance of an NFR Letter by the IEPA will allow the City to demonstrate that the site meets environmental safety thresholds for its intended future uses—protecting public health and offering strong reassurances to potential investors and developers.
Although not part of the ongoing construction project, the site includes space for a pre-planned stormwater detention area (Area F), which can be developed as part of the future phase. This type of advanced planning will reduce permitting complexity and development costs for future users of the site. Combined with the NFR certification, this positions the property as a highly desirable, shovel-ready redevelopment opportunity.
Learn More
The City will continue to provide updates as the project progresses and encourages residents to learn more and view site maps by visiting the 2025 Capital Improvement Projects section of the website: 2025 Capital Improvement Projects & Programs.
Additional resources: