Talk of Park Ridge selling its former public works service center has circulated for years, but on Monday, aldermen will be asked whether to accept a purchase price from a developer.
Chicago-based Lexington Homes is offering to buy the property at 1200 W. Elm St. at a cost of $1.45 million, according to the city. On Oct. 19, the City Council is expected to consider a motion authorizing the sale.
According to a staff memo shared with the council on Oct. 12, Lexington Homes was one of only two potential buyers to place a bid on the property, which has been largely used for vehicle and equipment storage and as a practice facility for youth baseball teams.
Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim said the city reached out to 100 developers and 50 real estate brokers to let them know that bids for the property were being sought. But local real estate broker Bill Cline, in attendance for the Oct. 12 meeting, claimed the request for bids “wasn’t well publicized.”
“I have someone who is interested in it for more money,” Cline said.
The offer from Lexington Homes is $349,000 less than the property’s 2014 appraisal of $1.8 million.
The development company’s plans for the property are unclear. Park Ridge Procurement Officer Jim McGuire said no development proposals were presented with the bid. A message left with a Lexington Homes representative was not returned Tuesday.
Lexington Homes is currently building 16 townhouses on the west side of Dee Road south of Touhy Avenue.
The property at 1200 W. Elm St., according to City Manager Shawn Hamilton, will be sold “as-is.”
“There are some concerns with the property and it’s fair to say we don’t know what those concerns are,” Hamilton said.
Zingsheim said some soil remediation was performed due to leaking underground fuel tanks, but the extent of environmental clean-up necessary on the site is still unknown.
“When they start tearing down buildings, who knows?” Zingsheim told the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. “It might be fine, but I doubt it.”
Third Ward Ald. Rick Van Roeyen questioned if the city needs to the sell property at this time. Hamilton said it does not, but he pointed out that earlier this year, the City Council voted to declare 1200 Elm St. as “surplus property,” paving the way for a sale.
“By the council’s action, it’s made known the fact we don’t need [the property] anymore,” Hamilton said, adding that the site currently does not generate any property tax because it is government-owned.
Five “yes” votes will be required from the City Council if the sale of the property is to be approved, aldermen were told in a staff memo.
Park Ridge relocated its public services center to a brand-new facility at 400 Busse Highway in 2000. The old property was then leased by Nicor, which moved out in 2009.
That year, the property was valued at $2.1 million, according to an appraisal provided to the city by Park Ridge-based MaRous and Company.
In 2010, the Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission voted not to change the zoning of the property, which currently allows for single-family residential buildings.
Twitter: @Jen_Pioneer
