Mt. Prospect officials are satisfied that the builder of a Menards Home Improvement Center has made a good-faith effort to compensate neighboring homeowners for property damage caused by construction.
“Substantial progress has been made,” said Village Manager Michael Janonis. “Substantial sums of money have been paid.”
Homeowners from the Harvest Heights subdivision had been urging the village to withhold the occupancy permit for the store at 740 E. Rand Rd. until all outstanding claims are settled. Village officials have declined to do that.
Following a meeting with village officials and representatives of Menards and the general contractor, homeowners have agreed to submit claims to their individual insurers. They have been guaranteed reimbursement for deductibles.
Menards is stocking its shelves in anticipation of opening.
Five homeowners have claimed structural damage from the construction; another seven or eight have said they have been inadequately compensated for property damage caused by paint spray from the construction site. Others have complained that vibrations from heavy machinery caused structural damage to their homes.
Henry Brothers Construction of Hickory Hills, the general contractor, hired a Texas company to remove the paint. It also offered cash allowances to homeowners if the paint could not be removed.
A structural engineer hired by the contractor’s insurer determined that the structural damage reported was not caused by the construction activity and denied the claims.
