Chicago's Southeast Side residents and activists are pushing back against a proposed ordinance that could pave the way for an underground development by opening the city up to mining operations, an idea that has left many locals concerned. The contentious project dubbed the "Invert Project," is backed by the independent investment group Ozinga Ventures, associated with the family-owned construction materials business Ozinga. According to the Chicago Tribune, the venture will feature a sprawling two-story underground complex near George Washington High School and promises over 3,000 new jobs.
"If a mine was proposed in Lincoln Park, or in the South Loop, that would be shut down immediately," Oscar Sanchez of the Southeast Environmental Task Force told a Zoom news conference on Thursday, as reported by the Tribune. Sanchez argued that the Southeast Side was unjustly targeted for such industrial proposals. The project developers counter that their primary focus is the construction of the commercial real estate complex, not the materials excavated in the process.
Critics also raise concerns about the environmental impact and safety of the community. Amalia NietoGomez, executive director of the Alliance of the Southeast, highlighted the potential risks in a recent statement: "We should not have mining next to our homes, our schools, our parks, and our grocery stores," she said, as quoted by the Tribune. "We don’t want to breathe in toxic dust or have mines affect the foundations of our homes." NietoGomez's opposition to the project precisely echoes the sentiments of a community still grappling with the legacy of industrial pollution.
The proposal also comes on the heels of an ordinance potentially amending city zoning laws, filed by Ald. Peter Chico. The amendment would allow exemptions for mining projects in certain areas—an action that has neighborhood advocates worried. "Our lives are on the line and our kids’ lives are on the line," community organizer Samuel Corona told NBC Chicago. "My kids life are too important for me not to fight it." Ald. Chico maintains he seeks to consider job opportunities and investment but insists he would do nothing without community backing.
Community response to the Invert Project and mining ordinance proposal highlights an ongoing battle over environmental justice and equitable development in Chicago. As these debates unfold, residents are closely watching the measures being taken by city officials and project stakeholders, firmly standing in defense of their health and the community's welfare.
