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A wealth of buildings in a beautiful
setting with winding paved roads and ample parking, easy interstate
access, and centrally located in the state are among the qualities
identified to make this property a desirable location.
Several buildings and a portion of
the property are slated for possible use by the state. But many more
acres and buildings remain open to be put into use.
Suggested
uses for buildings or acreage (in order of speakers' presentations):
- Public park and fishing pond
- A veterans hospital
- 6 acres to develop a field and
support facilities for a new semipro football team, the Lincoln
Tigers
- Kids' soccer and football on the
football grounds
- An area for a large shed for
Logan County Cemetery Association
- Full-care health facility for
bedridden prisoners
- Boot camp or holding facility for
juveniles
- A college extension, some other
education facility or homeland security training post
- Six to 10 lots for home
developments by Logan County Habitat for Humanity
- A prison outreach and after-care
facility that would include drug rehab, probably for a male
population
Amy Madigan from the Department of
Natural Resources said that the setting would make a great
public-access park. A pond could be dug and stocked with fish at
state expense. There is a grant available and help to write it. That
portion of the property would remain state-owned but would open up
other economic opportunities in addition to its given benefits to
the community.
Mr. Benedict pointed out that Logan
County is the exact center of the state and our location makes it a
great place to put a veterans hospital. "We have 103 acres out there
-- nobody can top that," he said.
As a past employee of LDC, Benedict
does not want to see some of the usable buildings -- such as Downey,
Webber and Fisch -- go to waste. They could be used for different
things. He added that he would like something that would bring state
jobs that pay a decent wage. "Lincoln needs jobs that are going to
keep people here," he said. "This is a good city."
Terry Smith made an unusual pitch.
Smith introduced the towering man who accompanied him as Curt McMack,
former pro football player for the Green Bay Packers. McMack now
coaches, and he led a team to league runner-up in the 2000 Mid-State
Region championship.
The men are involved with Mid-State
Football League, semipro football, and are looking for a place to
locate a team. "We think it would be a good program to bring to
Lincoln," he said.
All the Lincoln Tigers would need is
6 acres, and the football organization would take care of the rest.
Sponsors would cover costs of development. The organization is
required to be not-for-profit the first year. But with success they
can change that and pay players and build the economics of the
venture. Interest in the leagues is high, along with competition to
get in. Each year 1,500 players enter.
The middle-of-the-state access is
again a benefit that makes this a good site.
The community would not only benefit
from the economic boost spectators and participants would bring, but
the grounds would be available most of the time for youth sport
activities, such as a soccer league and youth football.
Bob Neal said that the location near
the cemeteries would be a benefit in building a new county shed for
the Logan County Cemetery Association.
Bruce Huskins would like to see a
university or something like the Department of Agriculture locate an
extension, some other educational facility or a homeland security
training post locate there -- something that would return jobs.
Dick Hurley said the buildings and
grounds are well-suited toward establishing a center for the
bedridden prison population. The population would be no threat to
the community and would return the types of jobs that were lost with
the closing of LDC.
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Sen.
Larry Bomke was part of the crowd attending a community meeting to
brainstorm land and building uses at the former Lincoln
Developmental Center, now Lincoln Estates.
Phil Dehner said having six to 10 lots
turned over to the Logan County Habitat for Humanity would provide a
centralized location to focus on building homes. The Habitat work
helps provide homes for people who otherwise cannot afford to buy a
house. The group has the skills and experience, having completed
building or refurbishing eight homes to date. "We could certainly do
it," he said.
He pointed out that the accelerated
return to the community by building these homes would be an
estimated $3 million.
Ross Thomas, an employee of the
federal prison system who is also involved in volunteer prison
ministry locally, would like to see a use as a prison outreach and
after-care unit. An area of 38,000 square feet would be needed for a
residential drug rehab program. Thomas said faith-based initiatives
are having greater effects than past efforts. They have a 67 percent
success rate, and 87.5 percent of participants did not require more
drug treatment later. The focus would probably be on men, since a
similar ministry under development, Genesis, is focused on helping
women.
Myra Nichols, the deputy director of
state-operated developmental centers, said that the locations for
the four 10-bed homes have been chosen. Two of the four homes will
be located where the Kickapoo Street apartments are now. The other
two homes will go the other side of State Street. The placement of
these homes was chosen based on the master plan with the intention
of integrating the campus into the community.
Bids for construction will be let
out July 1 and construction is expected to begin Sept. 1, with
completion anticipated in August 2006.
A market study performed by a
private consultant in 2003 is serving as a guide for the
redevelopment. The comprehensive study analyzed all aspects of the
surrounding county, the community, and looked at the location and
accessibility of the campus. It took information on the population,
businesses, services and infrastructure already in place and made
general recommendations on what might be in conflict or not
well-suited to the area, as well as what might be complementary or
beneficial uses of the campus.
A master plan was developed using
the market study and recommendations from the task force, Nichols
said.
Once four 10-bed homes are
established on the Lincoln Estates grounds, the state will consider
the possibility of using a couple of other buildings for a crisis
center and a dental center for mentally handicapped.
Rob Orr, director of Lincoln/Logan
County Development Partnership, is working with the Lincoln Estates
planning committee on a redevelopment plan. Mayor Beth Davis -- who
is on the planning committee, the board of the development
partnership and the LDC task force
-- organized the meeting but was unable to attend due to unforeseen
circumstances.
Orr will also coordinate with
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities
representative Julie Moore on opportunities and leads for new
businesses.
Moore, who also was at the meeting,
was very positive about the potential developments out on the
grounds. The market study has provided great information that allows
her to steer compatible, economically enhancing ventures to the
area. She has already had calls that are promising from businesses
looking for a location.
The Lincoln City Planning Commission
will rule on zoning issues.
The current goal is to have an
overall plan to submit to the state.
"Having access or control over the
buildings and grounds will enable quick decisions that site locators
require," Orr said in an outside interview. "Whether or not the city
physically takes ownership of the property is uncertain. The key is
that it needs to be available for sale or lease with terms and all
of the issues resolved ahead of time."
[Jan
Youngquist] |
