Judge dismisses challenge to city's landmarks ordinance

(Crain's) — Chicago's landmarks ordinance got a boost Wednesday when a Cook County judge dismissed claims that the law is unconstitutionally vague.

In a 27-page ruling, Judge Sophia Hall sided with the city, frustrating a six-year campaign by landmarking opponents to nullify two landmark districts on the city's North Side.

But the legal battle over the landmarks law, which allows the city to designate properties and areas as historically significant enough to prevent their demolition, isn't over yet. Thomas Ramsdell, the attorney for the plaintiffs, real estate executive Albert Hanna and broker Carol M. Mrowka, is vowing an appeal.

"We're disappointed in her ruling. The most I can say is we strongly disagree with her reading and interpretation of the binding Illinois appellate court decision of 2009," says Mr. Ramsdell, a partner in the Chicago office of Royal Oak, Mich.-based Howard & Howard PLLC.

A spokesman for the Department of Law says in an email that the city is pleased with the ruling. The city is the primary defendant in the case.

Read more: http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20120503/CRED03/120509881/judge-dismisses-challenge-to-citys-landmarks-ordinance#ixzz1uGTXub24