Chicago Heights DMV Reopens Over A Year After Fire Closed It

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — The Chicago Heights DMV will reopen Tuesday, a year and a half after a fire left southland residents without a permanent facility, Secretary of State Jesse White announced.

A fire at the 570 West 209th Street location caused the building to close in June 2020, during protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Chicago Heights fire officials did not rule the fire, which started in a nearby dumpster and spread to the building, an arson. However, officials said two other small fires lit the same day were connected to civil unrest in the area.

A temporary facility opened shortly after at Prairie State College, which state officials said was meant to operate for a few months while smoke damage at the building was addressed. It was still the primary location for Chicago Heights and Sauk Village residents over 18 months later.

"The people of Chicago Heights and the surrounding area deserve to have their permanent facility back in operation," White said in a news release. "While I have been disappointed with the landlord's slow progress of the repairs and renovations to the facility, I am pleased to announce its reopening."

With the reopening, the Prairie State College facility will close Tuesday.

Residents are welcome to walk into the 209th Street building without an appointment, though masks are required. Behind-the-wheel road tests, REAL ID applications and other ID services may require an appointment, according to a state spokeswoman. Vehicle services and renewals will not.

A Facebook post by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca hinted the updated facility would be worth the wait, with modernized waiting areas.

Statewide, driver's license and ID card expiration dates were pushed to March 31 this year, and the federal REAL ID deadline was moved to May 3, 2023.