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LDC task force previews
architectural plans
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[DEC. 9, 2003]
At the most recent meeting
of the LDC task force, Ferry and Associates Architects of
Springfield presented four drawings of what the Lincoln site may
look like. The drawings include residential, commercial,
recreational and educational settings.
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The plans use up to seven existing
buildings and include the four 10-bed group homes for people with
developmental disabilities, DHS spokesman Tom Green said.
Last month Gov. Blagojevich approved
funding to start up the boiler for the winter. Minimal heating for
even those buildings that will not be used as part of the new LDC
will preserve their quality for future use. The power plant costs
$1.3 million per year to run.
The campus has 30 buildings. The use of
the remaining buildings and acreage has also been given to research
and development by the task force.
The Illinois Housing Development
Authority has hired American Marketing Studies to do a market survey
of the Lincoln area to determine the needs in the area. Possible
uses are multifamily housing, a golf course, soccer fields, a
high-end technology research and education facility, or business.
The marketing firm will have
recommendations in January and in February. The final plan will be
developed using their recommendations.
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article]
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In the meantime, task force members are
keeping busy working on a timeline for what needs to be done and who
will be responsible for doing it. They will also look into what
legislation may be needed for the new development and get that
rolling. Previously the center was operated like other health care
facilities and was under the license of the Illinois Health
Facilities Planning Board. It was the vote of the board that
ultimately closed the facility, at the recommendation of former Gov.
George Ryan.
Past AFSCME President Don Todd
submitted a plan to keep the laid-off LDC workers on a recall list.
About 200 of the past employees have not found other work and are
available to return to work in the new facilities.
The next
meeting is Dec. 17 from noon to 3 p.m. at UIS.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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