Purchase of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home OK’d by Dolton Village Board

DOLTON, Ill. - The Dolton Village Board voted to approve the purchase of the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV during a meeting on Tuesday night.

Village officials aim to make the house at 212 E. 141st Place a historic site, allowing residents to benefit from the economic impact of the visitors who have already been flocking to the home.

‘Once in a lifetime’ opportunity

What we know:

The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase, even after multiple residents expressed concern about the village's ability to afford its other expenses like a bill backlog and local infrastructure.

Mayor Jason House said while the concerns were legitimate, he argued that the village had a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to turn a historic property into a driver of economic development in Dolton.

"I think this is a proud moment for our village, a proud opportunity, and we want to make sure that we’re doing it justice," House said.

House said the village was committed to infrastructure improvements like repaving roads, which will begin as early as this week. 

He added the village is already paying for extra police security in the area of the home because of the stream of visitors. So, he argued, they might as well try to maximize the benefit of owing the historic site.

The village cut a deal with the two property developers who bought the house and rehabbed it long before Pope Leo was elevated to his position. 

Even before Tuesday's meeting, crews were installing a new roof on the house. The project was being done by Windy City Construction Group, which reached out to the village and offered to put up a new roof for free.

There's been a steady stream of tourists and Catholic faithful coming to visit the house over the past several weeks, including on Tuesday.

"It’s like a house we would have when we were growing up. It’s a connection," said Peggy Buckley of Tinley Park, who was visiting the house Tuesday afternoon.

Uncertain price tag

What we don't know:

It’s still unclear what the purchase price will be for the house, which will not be made public until after the closing, sometime next week. 

Fox 32 learned that the price will be well above the $199,000 that the developers were asking for before Prevost became the pope, but far less than the $1 million they were hoping to get at auction.

The owners of the property at one point were heading to court after the village threatened to use eminent domain to take control of the property. But the owners argued that it would have been illegal.

Officials said the agreement is something of a win-win for both sides, avoiding a costly legal battle and securing the home for the village at a more reasonable cost.

What's next:

The village is not going to have to spend a big chunk of money upfront to acquire the house. 

Fox 32 learned officials are working with Wintrust Bank, which will essentially buy the house for the village, to structure something of a mortgage arrangement that the village will pay back.

The village is also expected to purchase another house at the end of the same block that is in disrepair. 

The mayor said they’re looking at possibly making the home the centerpiece of an historic district which would tell visitors the story ofPrevost and his family, who owned the home for nearly 50 years.

After years of negative headlines surrounding the chaotic reign of former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, village leaders are hoping ownership of the Pope’s boyhood home will be a blessing for Dolton’s fortunes. 

"We’ve seen the beginnings of the interest that’s out there," said House. "There’s been some charters that have come through town. We want to make sure we are representing that properly. And I think we’re in the infancy phase of the rebirth of what could be many great things in Dolton."

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