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A long-running fight over the future of a historic downtown Geneva property has tipped in the city’s favor after a Kane County judge upheld its authority to enforce property code rules on the vacant Mill Race Inn site.
The ruling: The judge affirmed Geneva’s ability to require upkeep of the 1840s blacksmith shop, siding with the city in its legal dispute with the Shodeen Family Foundation.
The fine: The developer has faced a $750 daily penalty since October 2024 for not covering the structure with a tarp, a total now exceeding $260,000.
The pushback: Developers argued the code shouldn’t apply to vacant or historic buildings, but the judge rejected that claim.
The future: While both sides say they hope to collaborate on redevelopment, no decisions have been made about the tarp or next steps for the property.
Read more in this Shaw Local article.
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