Another positive step in Lincoln Estates' future

State and local officials seek uses for beautiful grounds and buildings

[June 03, 2009]  Lincoln Mayor Keith Snyder confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that he has been in contact again with Gov. Pat Quinn's office regarding the former Lincoln Developmental Center grounds. Monday afternoon Snyder had a sit-down in Springfield with Quinn's deputy chief of staff, Carolyn Hodge, to further discuss possible uses for the acreage now known as Lincoln Estates.

LDC was closed under then-Gov. George Ryan in 2002. Since that time the beautiful grounds and silent buildings have sat empty, with no interest in using the facilities shown by either Ryan or former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. While in office Blagojevich broke his written word to state Sen. Larry Bomke that at the very least the four $400,000 brand-new and never-used group homes would be put into use for state services.

On May 13, Snyder and former Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman, along with Bomke and Rep. Rich Brauer, had what Snyder stated was a "very positive" face-to-face meeting with Quinn.

Snyder considered Monday's meeting regarding the empty campus another positive move. During this week's meeting he explained to Hodge in detail the long history of the demise of the center.

Hodge was surprised to learn that the center had been closed for seven years. Snyder said that it is important to realize that not everyone in Springfield is abreast of all that happened at LDC.

Like the governor, Hodge was very attentive to the story and receptive to finding uses for the state-owned grounds.

The mayor also said that Hodge would be contacting the Illinois Department of Human Services regarding possible interest by that agency in using portions of the grounds. She would have a contact person within DHS that Snyder could confer with in the future.

Snyder said that Hodge also liked the proposal made during the May 13 meeting to have an open house on the grounds. Prospective businesses could come to visit and offer suggestions. The mayor offered that the city would be willing to handle such an endeavor, and he assured Hodge that the city would make sure any open house would be orderly with respect to the state's property.

Hodge intended to talk to the governor to see if he has formed any personal ideas that she should relay back to the mayor about uses for the empty campus.

Snyder went on to say that Hodge told him the governor's office will make sure the city of Lincoln will be fully involved in any state plans that might be developed for the dormant facilities and grounds.

Although there is nothing definitive or tangible to report from these meetings about the campus becoming an integral part of our community again, it can be noted that the two meetings in the past two weeks have created more headway for possible uses of the acreage and its buildings than have been discussed in the last seven years with the two previous governors.

[By MIKE FAK]

Past related article

• State and local officials meet with Gov. Quinn on Lincoln Estates' future