Homer Glen Board Authorizes 5-Acre Purchase At 151st, Creme

HOMER GLEN, IL — At its Wednesday meeting, the Homer Glen Village Board authorized the purchase of 5 acres of land at 15077 S. Creme Road, in a 3-1 vote.

Trustees Sue Steilen, Curtis Mason and Rose Reynders voted "yes" for the purchase, while Trustee Dan Fialko voted against.

According to Board documents, the Village had previously been leasing the property at 151st Street and Creme Road for overflow parking for Village events.

The parcel recently went up for sale, and the Village decided to acquire it "because of the usefulness of this parcel to the Village" and to avoid risking the loss of the ability to lease or use the property in the future.

The asking price of the property was $1,299,900, according to Board documents. The Village is able to acquire the property for $800,000. The complete cost of the purchase, including maximum closing costs, would be $801,750, Board documents state.

"The reason we had [this property lease] for a long time was parking for HomerFest," Trustee Dan Fialko said. He said now, with parking in the inner circle and in the cul-de-sac of Heritage Park, he doesn't think the property is needed.

"We have no immediate use for this piece of property," he said. "...I just think it's bad timing, and it's a lot of money that could be spent toward the things we really need to get done."

Trustee Reynders disagreed, saying that the Village had been maintaining the land for a long time, and it had always been a part of the Village.

"I think, to complete our campus, I think it would be a great asset to the Village," Reynders said.

Trustee Sue Steilen said the purchase of the property was looking to the Village's future.

"It could fit in with plans for a civic area," Steilen added.