Sterling gets the green light for Blue Island shop

Decision upsets local repairers

BLUE ISLAND, Ill.-Collision repairers on Chicago's South Side have been embroiled in an ongoing battle to stop the construction of a new Sterling Autobody Center in their Blue Island neighborhood. After months of debate and twice being denied the permits necessary to build the proposed 16,000-sq. ft. facility on a vacant 1.75-acre plot of land-- estimated to cost between $1 million and $2 million-Sterling was granted the green light to build. On June 12, the Blue Island City Council granted final approval in an 8-6 vote to accept the zoning board's recommendation.

However, prior to this approval, the property owners and Sterling filed a …