The sale of a slice of Gordon Park is once again in jeopardy after a judge ruled in favor of a resident determined to block the development.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Leery Martin Jr. ruled the auction of two parcels of Gorton Park constituted a private sale, and thereby nullifies the public auction held Jan. 8. Atlantic Realty Partners was the sole bidder.

Where that puts the mixed residential/commercial development earmarked for the corner of Olden Avenue and La Grange Road remains to be seen.

The hearing ends a long battle between the Park District and La Grange resident Orlando Coryell, who took the district to court over the proposed sale of two plots of Gordon Park land to ARP. Coryell or his attorney, Mark Wohlberg, could not be reached for comment on the ruling.

Attorney Rob Bush, who represented the Park District, said while Martin did not find fault with the manner in which the auction was held, the fact the land had already been specifically zoned to the needs of the Atlanta-based developer made it a private sale.

“Even though the auction was conducted properly, the zoning that had been given by the village to Atlantic Realty Partners made it a private sale,” Bush said.

He added the Park District intends to move forward to secure a favorable ruling.

“The judge gave some indication on how the Park District could revise parts of the zoning,” he said. “If that gets done, he suggested it would be a public sale so we are investigating those options.”

Asked how long the ruling could postpone development of the site, Bush said he wasn’t sure if it would set back the project at all.

“We will appeal and move forward,” Bush said.

Village President Elizabeth Asperger said she was not familiar enough with the law as it relates to an appropriate private sale.

“I do know the process that was pursued in respect to this development was standard practice,” Asperger said. “Typically a developer who has an interest or a desire to pursue a development pursues discussions and approvals with a municipality or the government entity where the property is located to determine if the development proposal is one that is of interest or within the parameters of that government entity.

“To my understanding, that is standard practice in the state of Illinois,” she added. “So the determinative cause of this ruling seems an anomaly to me.”

Park District Board President Tim Kelpsas said the board needed to review the ruling to determine what the next step would be.

“I’m personally hopeful that we will be able to come to a resolution soon,” Kelpsas said.