Resident warns of property‑value fallout from O’Hare flyer; village says it is monitoring

During the public‑comment portion of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, resident Jim Cohn urged the village to convene an immediate response after a widely circulated article referred to as the "O'Hare flyer," saying local realtors told him home values in parts of River Forest "dropped by 50 percent" in the preceding 72 hours.

"I can tell you that my home just dropped by 50%," Cohn said, describing offers pulled and realtors declining to list homes on streets near the tracks. He said private equity funding tied to the proposal could begin work within 12 to 15 months and predicted the issue would dominate local discussion.

Assistant Village Administrator Jessica Spencer told the meeting the village is aware of the article and that "the village president put out, acknowledged the article in the village newsletter." She said the village has limited information at this time and expects the village board to consider the matter when more facts are known; the village board's next meeting is Sept. 14.

Board members and staff noted the zoning board is not the appropriate forum for a policy or economic‑impact discussion about a regional airport proposal and suggested residents raise the issue at the Village Board meeting.

The village did not announce any immediate regulatory action during the zoning meeting; officials said they will collect information and may address the matter at the Village Board meeting if appropriate.