Village Lays Out Plan, Support Of Vision For Mental Health Center Land

TINLEY PARK, IL —In a renewed pitch to acquire the Tinley Mental Health Center land, Village officials last week laid out to the state updated plans and letters of support for their vision for the hotly contested acreage.

A sports complex, indoor sports facility and ice rink, entertainment center, transit-oriented apartments and townhomes, multi-use trail and expanded wetlands are depicted in an updated rendering of the Village's vision for the 280-acre property. In a packet 24 pages long, Village Attorney Michael Del Galdo detailed for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services the benefits of the Village of Tinley Park purchasing the property from the State of Illinois, also outlining organizations and public entities that support the Village's bid.

"... this site is one of the single largest development opportunities left in the entire Chicago metro area," Del Galdo wrote. "If re-developed properly, this site can be a game changer not just for Tinley Park, but for the south suburbs and State as a whole."

The Village land "has developed a comprehensive plan, and understands the needs of the Village and what uses are most appropriate," according to the letter.

The documents include an updated rendering of the Village's vision for the property—which is at the center of a battle between the Village and the Tinley Park-Park District.

"The Village is dedicated to turning the site into a mixed use, entertainment district that will serve as a much-needed economic engine, providing critical revenues for the growth of our Village," Del Galdo wrote.

The plan would "complement our brand, Life Amplified, the nearby Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, the Convention Center/hotels across the street, and our historic downtown core," officials said.

Del Galdo goes on to say that the property landing in the hands of the Village is in the public's best interested because "we already do everything that's needed to develop it.

"A development of any size requires certain experience and expertise, but one of this scale requires far greater understanding and coordination across many areas," he wrote.

The property has no existing infrastructure, officials said, and needs an estimated $15 million in remediation. The Village has continued to communicate and work with the State to find redevelopment solutions that would result in cleanup and reuse of the property, officials said. Officials set in place a a tax incremental funding—known as a TIF—to help offset the cost of cleanup by future revenues brought in.

"I want to stress the point that we are dedicated to ensuring the entire 280 acres of the site are remediated," Del Galdo wrote, referencing the park district's desire to acquire a portion of the land. The park district n December, released its preliminary plans for the property, with visions of multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a playground and splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting and ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space.

In a report from environmental agency Tetra Tech, the property is described from its conditions in 2014 as one with "a complex history and numerous environmental concerns." The report goes on to detail issues with the property, including asbestos-filled buildings, soccer fields atop toxic waste, leaking transformers, landfill areas, and "drums of waste materials, potentially hazardous liquids, as well as debris areas," the report states. In 2019, a followup inspection showed that the actions Tetra Tech recommended be taken by the state were not followed, including 24-hour surveillance of the property, removal of drummed waste, removal of asbestos and black mold, and emptying of underground storage tanks, according to the document.

In its letter to the State, Tetra Tech said, it "has no comment or opinion on the merits of the development" envisioned by the park district; the company went on to say issues with the property make it "untenable."

Also included in the document to the CMS, letters of support for the Village's plans from organizations including the Illinois Municipal League; UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago; the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; the Cement Masons’ Union Local No. 502; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 9; the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 17; the Bridge, Structural and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local Union No. 1; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Painters’ District Council No. 14; Chicago Pipefitters Local 597; the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local No. 11; the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Local 73; the Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices Union Local 281; and the Will and Grundy Counties Building Trades Council.

Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole voiced his support for the Village's acquiring the land.

"It is imperative that ownership of this property transfers to an entity with the knowledge and resources to handle a development of this caliber," Cole wrote. "We believe the village has a proposed plan that could bring broad job opportunities to the area throughout the construction process and convene public and private stakeholders for efficient development.

"IML stands in support for the Village of Tinley Park's proposed plan to revitalize this property and the positive impact it would have on the local economy."

View the complete packet on the Village of Tinley Park website.