FEMA extends public comment period for water detention pond project

The public now has through March 29 to submit comments to the agency.

By Amethyst J. Davis

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Health

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March 2, 2024

An image of a microphone. Shutterstock

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is extending the public comment for a water detention pond and park project on 153rd St. and Myrtle Ave.

Initially, the federally-mandated public comment period ended on February 29. The public now has through March 29 to submit comments to the agency.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, in conjunction with Harvey, are seeking $5 million from FEMA to aid construction. The project’s overall price tag is near $10 million.

The project seeks to address local flooding. The District will construct a water detention pond. The city hopes to convert nearby Ascension-St. Susanna Catholic Church into a civic center and park, dovetailing with the pond.

The initiative will require the District to acquire land using eminent domain and displace residents, to criticism. Residents are being provided relocation assistance.

Anyone who wishes to submit public comments should also provide their name and contact information.

Comment by mail:

Duane Castaldi

Regional Environmental Officer FEMA Region 5

Department of Homeland Security

536 South Clark Street, 6th Floor

Chicago, IL 60605–1521

Comment by email:

fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov

Author

Amethyst J. Davis

Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication. Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She was previously a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Amethyst is a 2023 Leader of a New Chicago award recipient, as recognized by the Field Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.

She was invited by Harvard University to submit a 2023 and 2024 Nieman Lab prediction. Under her leadership, the HWH has become one of the nation’s most-watched hyperlocal newsrooms. The HWH has received national coverage in publications like Poynter, Harvard University’s Nieman Lab, the National Press Journalism Club Institute, and Editor & Publisher.

A Harvey native, Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School (’11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA’19). She is an alumna of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.