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State Investment Could Help
Advance Long-Overdue Redevelopment of LDC
[June 06, 2025]
Springfield, IL— State Senator
Sally Turner (R-Beason) is welcoming news that the Lincoln
Developmental Center (LDC) has been identified as one of five
high-priority properties eligible for redevelopment under a new $500
million state initiative, marking what could be the most significant
step forward in addressing the long-abandoned site in decades.
The LDC is listed under the $300 million “Surplus to Success”
program administered by the Illinois Department of Central
Management Services (CMS), which is designed to prepare idle
state-owned properties for private development. An additional $200
million through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO) will support local business attraction efforts
and site infrastructure readiness.
“For more than 20 years, the LDC
has stood as a symbol of inaction, a crumbling site that has blocked
economic progress and cast a shadow over this community,” said
Senator Sally Turner. “While this announcement is promising, it is
important to remember that this investment is subject to available
funds, which is why I remain focused on ensuring this property gets
the attention and action it deserves.”
After it was initially revealed that the state was finally looking
at potentially remediating the LDC site, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch,
a longtime advocate for the site’s redevelopment, formed the LDC
Task Force to help ensure the community is well-positioned to rise
to the top of the Surplus for Success project list.
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“The inclusion of
LDC on the state’s priority list is an encouraging sign that our
efforts are gaining traction,” said Mayor Tracy Welch. “Since
forming the LDC Task Force, our goal has been to ensure Lincoln
is ready and at the front of the line should an opportunity
arise. There’s still a long way to go, but we now have a clearer
path forward, and we’re prepared to keep pushing until this site
is finally brought back to life.”
Senator Sally Turner has been a longtime advocate for addressing
the blighted LDC site, filing legislation earlier this year to
transfer the property to the City of Lincoln and to require the
state to evaluate and demolish deteriorating state facilities.
In February, she stood alongside Mayor Tracy Welch and other
local leaders to highlight the need for redevelopment on the
property.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Senior Communications Strategist
Communications and Public Affairs
Illinois Senate Republican Staff]
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