Illinois Statutes Chapter 605. Roads and Bridges § 10/9.10. Acquisition of property

(a) Prior to the initiation of negotiations, the Authority shall establish an amount that it believes is just compensation for the property. The amount shall not be less than the appraisal of the fair market value of the property. Promptly thereafter, the Authority shall make a written offer to the owner to acquire the property for the full amount believed to be just compensation. Along with the initial written purchase offer, the owner shall be given a written statement of the basis for the offer. For owner-occupied dwellings, upon the owner's request, the Authority shall exchange its approved appraisal with the owner's appraisal obtained from a State-certified general real estate appraiser.

(b) The Authority shall make every reasonable effort to contact the owner or the owner's representative and discuss its offer to purchase the property. The owner shall be given every reasonable opportunity to consider the offer and present material that the owner believes is relevant to determining the value of the property, including an appraisal obtained by the owner from a State-certified general real estate appraiser, and to suggest modifications in the proposed terms and conditions of the purchase. The Authority shall pay for the cost of the owner's appraisal for an owner-occupied dwelling.

(c) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the appraiser shall disregard any decrease or increase in the fair market value of the real property caused by the project for which the property is to be acquired, or caused by the likelihood that the property would be acquired for the project, other than that due to the physical deterioration of the property that was within the reasonable control of the owner. If comparable sales of similar properties are factored into the amount of just compensation offered by the Authority, those comparable sales must have been with respect to property located outside the protected corridor.

(d) When the Authority acquires an owner-occupied dwelling the Authority shall reimburse the property owner up to $500 for reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred by the property owner related to closing costs in conjunction with the property owner's purchase of a replacement dwelling.