. The business owner argued that the mayor was bowing to political pressure after residents and activists protested the plan.
Reserve Management Group acquired General Iron in 2019 after announcing plans to move the scrap metal operation from its longtime home in Lincoln Park to a rebuilt facility at East 116th Street along the Calumet River. Reserve Management waited until it had an agreement with the city and a timeline for shutting down the North Side operation at the end of 2020 and opening the new shredding facility in early 2021.
In the city administrative appeal, lawyers for the business argued that the company had followed rules that should have allowed it to receive the city permit. Ex agreed and said in his order that Lightfoot had halted the permit process and added steps, including a health assessment of the Southeast Side, without seeking City Council approval.