Politics & Government
'Win, Win, Win' Land Deal Approved by Village Board
D229 enters into land agreement with Napleton Honda and village that will result in a new artificial turf football field and track for Oak Lawn High School.
The Oak Lawn Village Board approved an intergovernmental agreement between School Dist. 229 and the village at the regular board meeting on Tuesday night.
Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 wants to turn over some of its land to the village, which will license the parcel to In exchange, the car dealership has agreed to build a new artificial turf football field and track for Oak Lawn High School at a cost of approximately $1 million.
The village will lease or license the land to Napleton so it can expand its business and put more cars out.
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“This will turn more sales tax dollars back to the village,” D229 attorney Burt Odelson said.
The land parcel–just under an acre—is located along the third-base line of the high school’s baseball diamond along Southwest Highway and just north of the BP gas station and the old Coldwell Banker building.
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“Everything south of the fence line will be conveyed to the village,” D229 Supt. Michael Riordan said.
The intergovernmental agreement also calls for Napleton to add an underground water retention system underneath the new football field. The high school district has completed its donation agreement with Napleton Honda, which will serve as the project’s general contractor.
Village Manager Larry Deetjen said that Napleton has asked for a five-year extension on its business development agreement with the village so that it can recoup a $250,000 investment into improving the land so it can expand its outdoor car lot.
As new vehicles are sold, the village shares 50/50 in new growth as part of an incentive agreement it extended to Napleton two years ago. The extension would add five years to the 10-year agreement or a cap of $750,000 on projected sales growth–whichever comes first.
Deetjen said no public tax dollars would be used for the new track and field. The project has been fast-tracked for a June 1 start date.
“It’s a win, win, win for all the parties and for Oak Lawn,” Deetjen said. “It’s very exciting and futuristic.”
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