Lake County News-Sun |

Waukegan officials believe building purchase will pave way for downtown redevelopment; ‘This is a major step’

Downtown redevelopment in Waukegan received a major boost from the city with the pending acquisition of a former bank building at the southeast corner of Genesee and Washington streets.

Once the transaction is complete in the next 30 days, the city will own the entire block bounded by Genesee, Washington, Sheridan Road and Water Street, and Mayor Ann Taylor is ready for the next step.

“We’re going to send out a request for proposal to the development community,” Taylor said. “This is a major step toward downtown redevelopment.”

The City Council unanimously approved the acquisition of the vacant longtime bank building Monday at City Hall to give the city ownership of the entire block and control over the development process.

Listed for $2 million by a real estate broker, the city will pay $500,000. Taylor said the assessed market value calculated by the Waukegan Township assessor is $893,384.

Vacant for approximately 15 years, Noelle Kischer-Lepper, the city’s director of planning and economic development, said there have been at least six developers in the past few years who have been interested in the block but always asked about the bank building, a city landmark.

Kischer-Lepper said the city’s master plan calls for mixed-use development on the property. It is part of a tax increment financing district (TIF) established in 2013 which includes the downtown area, the harbor and the beach.

“The views from there are spectacular,” she said referring to unobstructed vistas of Lake Michigan from the Sheridan Road side.

Funding for the property will come from money already in the TIF. Taylor said there will not be a cost to taxpayers. With 2019 taxes on the property paid by the owner of a vacant building of $35,000, some of the purchase money will indirectly come from the buyer.

Mixed use is what Taylor said she wants on the property. She also hopes to see the nearly century-old former bank building remain as part of a block containing retail shops, restaurants and more. She has childhood memories of it when it was the First National Bank of Waukegan.

“It could be a boutique hotel or a craft brewery,” Taylor said of the building. “This is a win for the city and a value for us. There’s a vault in the basement. I remember sitting there having lollipops when my parents came to borrow money.”

Taylor said she anticipates the city will be ready to send out the requests for proposal in approximately 60 days to see what ideas developers have for the area and continue the process toward a major redevelopment.

Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward, said every time in the past a developer has come to the city seeking to develop the property, there was always one question which could not be answered. The city answered it with the council vote.

“The developers want to know about the bank,” Hayes said.

Gun violence discussed

While the aldermen had little say about the property acquisition and other issues, when the time came for them to comment on non agenda matters, several expressed concern over mounting gun violence, including the shooting death of a Zion man at a gas station in the 2100 block of Green Bay Road Monday.

“There was a murder in my ward this morning,” Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward, said. “We have a police chief, we have a police department that is their job to keep us safe. I’d love to have more conversations with the police chief and the community.”

Ald. Greg Moisio, 3rd Ward, said a possible solution is finding programs through the schools and Waukegan Park District to get young people involved and away from gangs. He said not only the police, but the Lake County state’s attorney’s office and the courts play roles too.

Ald. Roudell Kirkwood, 4th Ward, said there are people in town who know who the shooters are. They can help.

“Some people don’t want to tell on someone else,” Kirkwood said. “Somebody knows who is shooting. No one is living in a vacuum. No one wants to tell.”

Ald. Edith Newsome, 5th Ward, said there was recently a shooting in a park near her home where she goes for walks with her husband. She echoed Kirkwood’s comments.

“If you see something, say something,” Newsome said.