Village of Dolton, Illinois plans to acquire house where Pope Leo XIV grew up
The day Pope Leo XIV was elected, CBS News Chicago got an exclusive look inside his childhood home in the south Chicago suburb of Dolton.
The house is being rehabbed with plans for it to be sold. But those plans may be changing, with talk of the Village of Dolton taking over the now-very-sought-after real estate.
There is no doubt the value of the property at 212 E. 141st Pl. jumped instantly the moment the world learned Pope Leo XIV grew up there. While there are plenty of people looking to bid on the new-sought-after property, Dolton Mayor Jason House put any future buyer on notice that the village wants the property too.
"Anybody who's interested in this property should have the benefit of knowing that eminent domain is a likely outcome," he said.
The one-story brick house was built in 1949. It has been renovated since the Prevost family lived there, but live there they did for 50 years.
In a letter to New York-based Paramount Realty USA, attorney Burton Odelson wrote on behalf of the village that it intends to purchase the home either by direct purchase or by eminent domain.
The village plans to work with the Chicago Archdiocese to turn the house into a historic site that can be viewed and visited by the public, Odelson wrote.
"It's definitely a moment of pride for our community," said Mayor House. "It's one that we consistently say we want to make sure that we're partnering with the Archdiocese to honor it in the right way."
House said the village's first choice would be to negotiate with the current owner of the house — but the eminent domain option could come into play if negotiations don't work out.
"We felt like it was a proper step to notify the auction house that the village is interested. And we'll take that measure if we need to, ideally, like anything else," he said. "You want to have a good, fair negotiation with the owner. We want to be fair to him, and we also have the conflicting interest of making sure we're honoring the property."
Currently, Paramount Realty USA is planning an auction of the house, which is scheduled for June 18. The starting bid is currently $250,000.
But Odelson wrote that any prospective buyers should be told their "purchase" may be only temporary since the village plans to take over the house.
The mayor said he does not see this as a money grab.
"While many look at it as a financial opportunity, it's an obligation for us," said House, "and if we honor it properly, everybody will get the chance to unite and rejoice in the moment."
The process of the village taking over the house could take a while. But for now, the Dolton Village Board already voted to rename the street on which it is located as Pope Leo Way.
