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Reopening LDC taking form
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[NOV. 6, 2003]
At the order of Gov. Rod
Blagojevich to reopen a portion the former Lincoln Developmental
Center, a diverse group of skilled and special interests people have
been meeting together with Illinois Department of Human Services
under the guidance of a private mediator. The focus of the Lincoln
Developmental Center Task Force has been determining the population
to be served and the type of services and buildings that would be
needed. The process has been long and often arduous since the group
is composed of people with differing beliefs about how to best care
for people who are mentally and physically disabled.
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The group's intent purpose is to
develop residential care facilities or homes in the best interests
of the mentally handicapped. They are also seeking to develop a plan
for the remaining grounds and buildings of the former LDC campus.
Small groups worked together over the
summer to gather varying specific information. The group then began
meeting again as a whole to develop plans in the fall. Illinois
Department of Human Services Secretary Sheila Adams, who will
present the finalized plan to the governor, marshaled the task force
forward at their last meeting. As a result some definite plans are
in progress.
Four 10-bed units will be built on the
grounds. A portion of the existing buildings will be reopened to
serve 20 returning LDC residents. The group will meet Nov. 17th to
firm up the facility plans. Once all those plans are completed the
work will be put out to bid. It is estimated that it will take
several months before the bid process is complete and construction
begins, DHS spokesman Thomas Green said.
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article]
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"The task force continues to move
toward establishing a new center that will be innovative and offer a
range of services for persons with disabilities," Green said.
The group also continues to look for
other uses of the remaining campus. Possible options include a
dental clinic, crisis center, low-income housing and other private
development, assistive technology center, training center for staff,
senior housing or -- the most enticing possibility -- a
collaboration with SIU School of Medicine for a state-or-the-art
facility.
Mayor Beth
Davis said that she would like to see some good use of the unused
buildings. They are structurally sound buildings. The campus is 103
acres and only a portion will be used by the new LDC. She would like
to see the secretary recommend turning over the remaining available
property to Lincoln. "We could do some wonderful things with it,"
Mayor Davis said.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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