Section 2

(315 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 252) Sec. 2. Necessity and purpose of act and declaration of public policy and public use. There exist in certain urban areas of the State these degenerative conditions, at once both characteristic and causative of Slum and Blight Areas, namely: (1) Disproportionate tax delinquency and consequent inadequacy of tax payments in relation to the cost of State and municipal services rendered; (2) Economic deterioration of properties and impaired investments; (3) A constant exodus of the population of such areas resulting in the further deterioration of such areas and in added costs to the municipalities of this State for the creation of new public facilities and services elsewhere; (4) Age, physical deterioration or obsolescence of improvements in such areas particularly those improvements affording family accommodations, to such a degree as to render such areas unfit and unsafe for human use and habitation; and (5) Prevalence of the factors conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, crime and poverty. Such Slum and Blight Areas are usually situated in the older and more centrally located portions of the cities, villages and incorporated towns involved and, once existing, spread unless eradicated. As a result of these degenerative conditions, the territories and properties embraced in Slum and Blight Areas fall into a state of non-productiveness, fail to share their due and proper portion of the taxes necessary for the support of the municipalities within whose boundaries they are situated, and ultimately become waste territories, economic and social, producing but a meager, while consuming a disproportionate, share of the public revenue raised by government to defray the cost of police and fire protection, to preserve the public health and to promote the general welfare. The drain upon the public revenue necessitated by Slum and Blight Areas, if they are permitted to remain and spread, will impair these indispensable governmental functions not only as to such areas but as to the municipalities and the State as well. The elimination of these degenerative conditions, and the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Slum and Blight Areas, is in the best interests of the health, morals, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the State. The accomplishment of these ends by private initiative, through Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporations, supervised and regulated by the public, should be fostered, encouraged and aided. Accordingly, such elimination and rehabilitation and rebuilding, through the activities of Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporations as provided by this Act, are hereby declared to be a public use, and Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporations, for these purposes, are hereby authorized to be created with the powers and subject to the public supervision and regulation as hereinafter set forth. (Source: Laws 1941, vol. 1, p. 431.)