Lincoln City Council
City hears request to abandon 485 feet of South State Street for Youth Detention Center

 

[November 13, 2021] 

At the Tuesday night committee of the whole meeting of the Lincoln City Council representatives of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice presented a request to permanently close 485 feet of South State Street. The section runs through the proposed new campus for Juvenile detention center on the east side of the former Lincoln Developmental Center.



The outline presented by the representative’s show that the campus for the detention center is made up of two segments. The first is an oblong section that runs north and south on the west side of State Street. The second segment is a triangular shaped parcel that runs on the east side of State Street. The two parcels join on the south end of the oblong.



The DJJ is requesting that the portion of State Street that lies between the two adjoining parcel be permanently closed and a new street be built on the far east end of the triangle and running south west to reconnect with State once again.



Addressing the council were Tim Weber with Cordogan Clark & Associates, Dustin Erikson of Terra Engineering and Bill Peyton of the DJJ.

Peyton opened the discussion with a short review of the plans for the property. He explained that the facility will offer services to 30 youth in residence. He said that the LDC property was chosen for multiple reasons, not the least of which is location in central Illinois. He explained that there are youth detention centers around the state, but there are none in the central part of the state. The location would enable the DJJ to house these youth in areas that are closer to their home communities making it easier for the youth and their families. In addition he said that Lincoln offers opportunities for valuable community partnerships such as with the local colleges for post-secondary education.
 

Weber said the DJJ is taking only a small portion of the total LDC Campus. Within the portion it is taking are four cottages, two which will be used for housing of youth and two that will be used for administration and counselling services. In addition, the DJJ will build another building that will be utilized for education and other services for the youth.

The issue that the DJJ and his firm have been working to address concerns how to get the youth safely across the street from housing on the east of State Street and services on the west. He said that they had considered a number of options, but the one that seemed to be the best was to close State Street.

Erikson is the engineer for the project and said that the site plan would do away with 485 feet of State Street. At the same time, he acknowledged that there are public utilities that run along that length of street they are asking to be closed. He said the DJJ would give easements to those utilities so that they would have access as needed. It was also noted that the Ameren Illinois electric lines are currently above ground, located on poles. Discussions are underway about burying those lines that close through the DJJ campus.

It was also noted that at the far south end of that section of State Street is a single dwelling home that is not part of the campus. It was explained that the south end of State would remain intact giving access to that home.

Alderman Rick Hoefle asked why the group was proposing connecting the new road to College Street instead of West Kickapoo. From the maps provided during the presentation, West Kickapoo looked like a natural connection.

Erickson said that in talking with Lincoln Street Superintendent Walt Landers, Landers had felt that connecting to College would be the better solution.

Landers addressed the question and said that on West Kickapoo coming out from the under the viaduct, there is a very steep incline as well as existing intersections. He felt that College would be safer for motorists as well as better for police and fire.



Steve Parrot noted that in the aerial view there appears to be a line of trees about where the new road will go. He asked if the trees would have to be removed. Erickson said at this point that is unknown. The engineers will have to examine the property lines and look at the railroad right of ways. Landers said that there would also be city right of ways and drainage that would have to be addressed on both sides of the new road. He felt certain there would have to be some clearing done in that area. Parrott said he was considering the amount of trash that would have to be cleaned up along the tracks as well. He added that he wanted the road to look nice including the right of ways.
 

Wanda Lee Rohlfs asked how the new road would be paid for, was the city expected to bear that expense? Weber said that DJJ would build the new road, and then would turn ownership of the road over to the city. The city would then be responsible for maintenance.

Downs asked if the facility would be fenced and how. Weber said it would be fenced. The fencing will be ten feet tall and a black mesh. He added that the fencing will not be close to the road. Parrott wanted to know if the fence would be topped with razor wire as most adult detention centers are. He was told there would be no razor wire.

Rohlfs said that prior to returning to the city council, she had taken a “field trip” tour of the facility in Onarga as a citizen. She noted there are no fences at Onarga. She asked why will there be fences in Lincoln, what is the difference between this detention center and Onarga?

Rohlfs also said that she felt it would be beneficial to the newer members of the council if the DJJ would come back and explain the project from a “contextual” perspective, what the programs will be at the center, what the youth will be doing in regard to education, activities and etcetera?

Kevin Bateman asked about the rest of the LDC property and if there were any plans for further development. Mayor Tracy Welch said that he had spoken with Senator Sally Turner about this. The DJJ claimed their piece of the property when the LDC campus was placed on the states surplus list for possible disposal. Welch said the campus will be coming back on the list soon. He added that the perfect scenario would be for the state to give the balance of the property to the city so the city could develop it.

At the end of the conversations, Rohlfs asked what the anticipated occupancy date for the new facility will be. Peyton said that the goal is occupancy by August, 2023.

Welch concluded the conversations saying that the ask of the DJJ was for the council to endorse the plan for the permanent closure of 485 feet of South State Street and the construction of 1,060 feet of new street to be connected to and named South College Street. The request was placed on the agenda for the next voting session on Monday, November 15th.
 

On the Monday agenda the item will be 11B – “Approval of design for the construction and re-alignment of State Street and College Street to accommodate the Department of Juvenile Justice facility.”

As is always the case, the city council has the right to table an item on the agenda if they feel they need additional time to make a well-informed decision.

[Nila Smith]

Lincoln City Council
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice explains plans for new facility at former Lincoln Developmental Center in Lincoln


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