Section 65 ILCS 5/11-74.2-1 - PurposeIt is hereby found and declared:
(a) In certain municipalities of the State there exist commercial blight or conservation areas where a major portion of the commercial buildings and structures are detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and the welfare of the urban community because of age, dilapidation, overcrowding or faulty arrangement, or lack of ventilation, light, sanitation facilities, adequate utilities or access to transportation, commercial marketing centers or to adequate labor supplies.(b) Such commercial blight or conservation areas are usually situated in the older and centrally located areas of the municipalities involved, and once existing, spread unless eradicated.(c) As a result of these degenerative conditions the commercial properties embraced in a commercial blight or conservation area fall into a state of non-productiveness or limited productiveness, and fail to produce their due and proper share of taxes.(d) The conditions in a commercial blight or conservation area necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for crime prevention, public health and safety, fire and accident protection, and other public services and facilities and constitute a drain upon the public revenue. These conditions impair the efficient, economical and indispensable governmental functions of the municipalities embracing such areas, as well as the governmental functions of the State.(e) In order to promote and protect the health, safety, morals and welfare of the public it is necessary to provide for the eradication and elimination of commercial blight or conservation areas and the construction of redevelopment projects and commercial projects in these areas.(f) The eradication and elimination of commercial blight or conservation areas and the construction of redevelopment projects financed by private capital, with financial assistance from governmental bodies, in the manner provided in this Division are hereby declared to be a public use essential to the public interest.