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Port of Chicago
Map
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Location
CountryUnited States United States
LocationChicago, Illinois
Coordinates41°43′59″N 87°31′41″W / 41.733°N 87.528°W / 41.733; -87.528
Details
Opened1959
Executive DirectorClayton Harris III
Statistics
Annual cargo tonnage894,832
Website
www.iipd.com

The Port of Chicago consists of several major port facilities within the city of Chicago, Illinois, operated by the Illinois International Port District (formerly known as the Chicago Regional Port District). It is a multimodal facility featuring Senator Dan Dougherty Harbor (Lake Calumet), the Iroquois Landing Lakefront Terminus, and Harborside International Golf Center.[1] The central element of the Port District, Calumet Harbor, is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[2]

The modern Port of Chicago links inland canal and river systems in the Midwestern United States to the Great Lakes, giving the global shipping market access to the St. Lawrence Seaway and linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Illinois Waterway and the Mississippi River.[3]

History

In 1951, the Illinois General Assembly authorized the creation of port districts in Illinois with the Chicago Regional Port District, to oversee harbor and port development, being the first such port district created.[4] The State of Illinois and City of Chicago had relinquished all rights and interest in the bed of Lake Calumet to the Port District, so as to enable the District to develop Calumet Harbor.[5] The district was given the power to acquire any navigable waters of the state which were within the District area.[5] The constitutionality of the district was challenged in People v. Chicago Regional Port District. The plaintiffs, later the appellants, challenged the district on the grounds that the sale or lease of navigable waters by the State was prohibited and the State did not have the ability to establish special corporations. In 1954, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected the appellants’ claim to possess constitutional standing with respect to the elements claimed as grounds.[5]

In 1985, the Illinois International Port District was created by the Illinois International Port District Act as a political subdivision to run the Port of Chicago.[6]

C.T.C. No. 1

A 620-foot-long cargo hauler brought to the south Chicago ports in 1982. With a capacity of 16,300 tons, this ship was used for storage and transfer of cement until its termination in 2009. The ship hasn't moved since its termination and then purchase by the Grand River Navigation Co., Traverse City, MI.[7]

Port Commerce & Foreign Trade Zone No. 22

Illinois International Port District is responsible for Foreign Trade Zone No. 22.[8][9] This zone spans 8 counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, and Will Counties as well as portions of McHenry and Kane Counties. Around the Calumet zone the district maintains 20 acres of land for future developments as well as 400,000 square feet of warehouse space. At the mouth of the Calumet River is the Iroquois Landing Lakefront Terminus, this Area is utilized as Shipping container processing and storage space. The terminal currently handles 190 acres (0.77 km2) of paved concrete grounds as well as 3000 feet of boat and barge berths. The Iroquois Terminus is serviced with direct trucking and rail access supported by two transit sheds spanning 100,000 square feet including a 135 railcar staging area.[8][10] About 6 miles along the Calumet River it feeds into Lake Calumet which contains two grain elevators maintained by the port authority and is reported to have a combined capacity of 14 million bushels, as well as liquid bulk storage of 800,000 barrels.

Governance

This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Section contains "Current Board Members" with term expiration dates in the past. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2022)

The Illinois International Port District Act creates a nine member board. Four members are appointed by the Governor of Illinois with the advice and consent of the Illinois Senate and five members are appointed by the Mayor of Chicago with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council.[11] The Illinois International Port District is the only port district in Illinois that may not levy taxes.[12] By statute, the Executive Director of the IIPD is a member of the Task Force on the Conservation and Quality of the Great Lakes.[13]

Current board members of IIPD[14][15]
Members Role Date Appointed Term Expiration Appointment Authority
Bowen, Charles Member 2/9/2005 6/1/2019 Mayor of Chicago

(Rahm Emanuel)

Edwards, Averil Member 8/10/2020 6/1/2025 Governor

(J. B. Pritzker)

Fitzmaurize, Terrence Vice Chair 11/13/2007 6/1/2020 Mayor of Chicago

(Rahm Emanuel)[16]

Habel, William Member 6/30/2017 6/1/2022 Governor

(Bruce Rauner)[17]

Meltzer-Cassel, Danielle Member 11/6/2019 6/1/2023 Mayor of Chicago

(Lori Lightfoot)

Solis, Ivan Chair 11/6/2019 6/1/2023 Mayor of Chicago

(Lori Lightfoot)

Sriraj, P.S. Member 8/10/2020 6/1/2025 Governor

(J. B. Pritzker)

Sullivan, Terrence Member 5/11/2015 6/1/2024 Governor

(J. B. Pritzker)

Wisniewski, Henry V. Member 7/28/2011 6/1/2023 Mayor of Chicago

(Rahm Emanuel)

Reform efforts and proposals

In 2008, the Chicago Civic Federation proposed the dissolution of the Illinois International Port District. Under their plan, port operations and related lands would transfer to the City of Chicago; transfer of open land to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County; and transfer Harborside International Golf Center to the control of the Chicago Park District.[18]

In July 2013, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn proposed a privatized revitalization of the Port Facilities and District area. Attempting to strike a deal with Private family-owned International Investment and Management company Broe Group. Negotiation for this revitalization ended on the negotiation table without definitive statement.[19][20]

During the 100th Illinois General Assembly, Elaine Nekritz filed House Bill 2502 which, if signed into law, would have replaced the district’s current governing board with the Chicago City Council. The bill was referred to the Rules Committee and died at the end of the legislative session.[21]

As of 2019, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is studying the District, Its facilities, and the surrounding area to provide a economic solution for the Port to operate out of the negative.[22]

Aerial view of the Port of Chicago; former freighter C.T.C. No. 1 is visible in dock

Facilities

View of the Illinois international port from the Bishop Ford Freeway.

References

  1. ^ "Lake & River | IIPD". www.iipd.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  2. ^ "Calumet Harbor and River". US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Port of Chicago". World Port Source. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  4. ^ Groesch, Lisa; Roberts, Sandra, eds. (March 2003). Legislator's Guide to Local Governments in Illinois: Special Districts (PDF) (Report). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Sapientiae, Via, ed. (1959). "The Port District: General Considerations of an Important Type of Municipal Corporation, with Emphasis on Illinois Districts". DePaul Law Review. 9 (1): 74–80. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  6. ^ Holland, William G., ed. (July 1, 2013). "Management Audit of the Illinois International Port District" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Auditor General. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  7. ^ "C.T.C. No. 1, Pioneer, Hull No. 3, Steelton". www.boatnerd.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  8. ^ a b "Port of Chicago". World Port Source. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  9. ^ "FTZ 22 Site List". enforcement.trade.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  10. ^ "Iroquois Landing | IIPD". www.iipd.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. ^ "Illinois International Port District Act". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Bembridge, Kevin; Charles, Jennifer; Cole, Cornette; McCarthy, Natasha; Silva, Mercera (April 25, 2019). Banks, Vecoya (ed.). "Individual State Descriptions 2017 - Illinois" (PDF). 2017 Census of Governments. Suitland, Maryland: United States Census Bureau. pp. 83–92. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Gruber, Amanda (August 1, 2018). "Task Force on the Conservation and Quality of the Great Lakes". Publication 425: State Board and Commission Descriptions (PDF). Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 104. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  14. ^ "Boards and Commissions - Board Information". webapps1.chicago.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  15. ^ "Office of Executive Appointments - Appointments - Boards and Commissions Detail View". www2.illinois.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  16. ^ "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Announces Appointments to City of Chicago Boards and Commissions". www.chicago.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  17. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of AM1000214". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  18. ^ Botstein, Clara; Valentine, Lise; Calia, Roland (June 30, 2008). "A Call for the Dissolution and Restructuring of the Illinois International Port District". Chicago Civic Federation. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  19. ^ "Mayor Emanuel, Governor Quinn Announce New Port Authority Managment [sic] Plan to Revitalize Critical Transportation Hub, Providing $500 Million Investment, Creating up to 1,000 New Jobs". www.chicago.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  20. ^ Karp, Gregory. "Deal to privatize Port of Chicago falls through". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  21. ^ Nekritz, Elaine (February 7, 2017). "House Bill 2502 IL International Port District". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  22. ^ "Illinois International Port District Master Plan - CMAP". www.cmap.illinois.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
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