Demolition At Oak Forest Campus To Start Soon, Community Meeting Set

OAK FOREST, IL — With demolition set to begin at the former Oak Forest Hospital campus, Cook County officials will hold a community meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The Cook County Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) invites the public to attend the meeting at Markham Courthouse, 16501 Kedzie Ave., Feb. 18 at 1 p.m., or join the meeting virtually for the latest information on demolition at the campus at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue. BAM is the agency leading the demolition of buildings at the campus, Cook County said.

"The buildings have been vacant for years, including the former Oak Forest Hospital. Most of these structures are outdated and costly to maintain," Cook County officials said in a bulletin. "Through the demolition, the County will save millions of taxpayer dollars related to the maintenance and upkeep of the Campus."

BAM had hoped to begin demolition sooner, officials said, but paused to explore options for preservation or "adaptive reuse" of some buildings, officials said.

"Robust outreach was also conducted to ensure local businesses and contractors had an opportunity to learn about the project and how to participate," the bulletin reads. "Additionally, evaluating and refining such a complex undertaking resulted in administrative delays."

Buildings scheduled for demolition are on property owned by Cook County, bordered on the north by 159th Street, on the south by 163rd Street, on the west by Cicero Avenue, and on the east by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

"The plan for demolition includes the abatement, remediation and removal of all but a few of the structures on the site, as well as the central utility plant and underground tunnels," the County said on its website.

The Forest Preserve property is not affected by the demolition, officials said.

Visitors to the Preserve have alternative access to the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve through the southwest corner of the preserve at the Don Gorman Park District facility. During demolition, the 159th Street entrance and the Cicero entrance to the Oak Forest campus are closed to the public.

BAM has identified structures within the Oak Forest campus to be safely removed and relocated for future education of the historic importance of the Oak Forest Campus. Additionally, the Cook County Archives and Records Office has completed extensive work to preserve artifacts, documents, and other materials on the site. Any questions about historic preservation efforts can be directed to Audrey.Jonas@cookcountyil.gov.

Work In Phases

Officials have said the demolition project is complex and will take place in multiple phases and activities. Structures will be taken apart piece by piece; no explosives will be used, the bulletin reads. Phase 1 (16-18 months) is underway, with completion slated for March 30, 2026. This phase includes the demolition of 11 buildings. The project team has mobilized and is preparing the site for demolition. Mesh has been installed on a six-foot-high construction fence around the site.

Phase 1 includes:

• Disconnecting water and other utilities to buildings
• Abatement: removal and disposal of any contaminated construction materials—asbestos, lead and so on

Phase 2 (to last approximately 24 months) includes:

• Demolition of up to 29 buildings, pending outcome of strategic planning

"The County and its contractors are diligent about the proper and safe disposal of any contaminants," officials said. "All work will comply with standards of the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Illinois Department of Public Health and National Emission Standards.

Air quality monitoring will be ongoing, with results available to the public on the County’s website.

"Water is essential for controlling dust, primarily through the use of high-pressure water cannons that wet down masonry, concrete, wood, and other materials removed from the building as demolition progresses," officials said. "Licensed air sampling professionals will conduct onsite air quality monitoring to ensure that dust emissions are properly managed and stay within levels allowed by environmental health regulators."

The County will keep residents, businesses and organizations informed via community meetings, briefings with local officials, mailed bulletins and electronic newsletters. The public can also share questions and concerns directly to Cook County BAM at Audrey.Jonas@cookcountyil.gov. Regularly updated information will be posted at www.cookcountyil.gov/oakforest.