Burr Ridge Loses Bonus With Project's Withdrawal

BURR RIDGE, IL – The recent withdrawal of a big development plan in Burr Ridge meant something else for the village – the loss of a brand-new public works building.

Bridge Industrial was going to build the facility as part of a deal to get better access to the site. Earlier this month, though, the developer pulled its entire project, without giving a public explanation.

The developer's overall plan was for seven commercial buildings at the old CNH Industrial property. Bridge said its project would not be a trucking hub, something neighbors feared.

The public works building was estimated to cost at least $7 million.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Russell Smith asked what the village would do about a new public works building.

Village Administrator Evan Walter said the village did not need to do anything because the current building at 451 Commerce St. has no structural problems. It certainly has no issues like Village Hall, which is now on the market, he said.

With Bridge Industrial, the village had leverage because its public works property was in the way of a street the company wanted to build to connect to International Street, which leads to a major road. So a land swap was proposed.

"The (village's) suggestion was that if you move us, you need to not only move us, you need to give us more land and a new building," Walter said.

The idea of getting a new facility, he said, did not necessarily reflect the building's current condition. And an architect who examined the structure said it provided the village enough space and had no major needs, he said.

Mayor Gary Grasso said he presumed the village would get more proposals for the CNH Industrial site. And the village may well get another offer of a public works building, given that the same issues exist, he said.