Overview

• The Dolton Village Board voted unanimously July 1 to acquire the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV at 212 E. 142nd Place and convert it into a public historic site.
• Village leaders arranged a mortgage deal with Wintrust Bank to cover the undisclosed purchase price, which sources say exceeds $199,000 but stays below $1 million.
• Windy City Construction Group donated and installed a new roof on the property at no cost to Dolton as part of initial preservation efforts.
• Dolton intends to provide 24/7 police protection and designate the surrounding block as a historic district to accommodate pilgrims and tourists.
• Some residents have voiced concerns that the project’s costs could exacerbate Dolton’s existing debt and delay urgent infrastructure repairs.